• This reality has prompted Nio management to rethink the need for a more thorough understanding of customer needs.
• The ET5 Touring has surpassed the ES6 in monthly deliveries for three consecutive months.

Qin Lihong, co-founder and president of Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO), said that the ET5 Touring wagon's sustained sales lead over the ES6 SUV (sport utility vehicle) for several months was unexpected and has led the company to rethink its understanding of user needs.

"The ET5 Touring becoming Nio's top-selling model in recent months was actually somewhat unexpected for us," Qin told media including CnEVPost during a roundtable in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province today.

The day before, Nio held its Nio Day 2025 event in the eastern Chinese city, launching the third-generation ES8 SUV and the Horizon Edition of the ET9 sedan.

Most people had previously viewed touring models and wagons as a niche market in China, but Nio has done quite well with them, Qin said.

"This has also made us reflect that we may need a more thorough and fundamental understanding of user needs," Qin said.

The ET5 Touring delivered 4,315 units in August, again becoming the Nio brand's best-selling model ahead of the ES6's 2,877 units, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

This marks the third consecutive month the ET5 Touring has surpassed the ES6 -- a model that had long been Nio's top seller, in monthly deliveries.

Qin said that the ES6 remains Nio's most comprehensive and balanced product, deserving higher delivery volumes.

However, the ES6 faces intense market competition, Qin noted, adding that the RMB 300,000 ($42,160) mid-size SUV segment is one of the most fiercely contested categories.

"I believe the ES6 should achieve better performance," he said.

The ET5 Touring was launched on June 15, 2023, and was among of the earliest production wagons in China along with the Zeekr (NYSE: ZK) 001.

The ET5 Touring shares the same starting price as the standard ET5 sedan -- currently RMB 298,000 including the battery pack -- but offers greater cargo capacity.

The ES6 currently starts at RMB 338,000 in China, while the latest third-generation ES8 begins at RMB 406,800.

($1 = RMB 7.1156)