Guides · Model names

NIO model names in Europe and China — what maps to what

If you service NIO cars in Europe, you meet a naming gap on the first job: the badge on the car says EL7, while the documentation and parts listings that come back from China say ES7. It is the same model line; the name changed for the European market.

That is only the first of two traps. The second one costs more money: ES6 and ES8 have both gone through more than one generation in China, and the name did not change with the car. So "ES6" alone does not identify a part. This page maps the names, explains where the split came from, and sets out what to confirm before you order.

1. The name map

Sold in Europe as	Marketed in China as	Body	Note
EL6	ES6	Mid-size SUV	Launched in Europe in June 2023 [1]
EL7	ES7	Mid-large SUV	European name used from the October 2022 Berlin launch [2]
EL8	ES8	Flagship 6/7-seat SUV	European deliveries of the revamped model started in September 2024 [3]
ET5	ET5	Mid-size sedan	Same name in both markets
ET5 Touring	ET5 Touring	Estate	Estate version of the ET5, launched in Europe in June 2023 [1]
ET7	ET7	Flagship sedan	Same name in both markets
Firefly	firefly	Compact	Separate sub-brand; reported as confirmed for Europe, with UK sales due to start in October [6]

We do not publish a generation year next to these names, on purpose — see section 3.

2. Why the names differ

The split comes from a trademark dispute with Audi over its S-badged performance models.

Date	Event	Source
2022-06	Audi files suit at the Munich Regional Court, arguing NIO's ES6 and ES8 are too close to its S6 and S8	[4]
2022-10	NIO says it will use EL7 rather than ES7 in Europe, citing the litigation and wanting to avoid disruption for European customers	[2]
2023-01	Munich Regional Court rules for Audi at first instance; NIO is barred from selling in Germany under the ES6 and ES8 names	[4]
2023-02	EUIPO rejects Audi's separate attempt to invalidate NIO's ES6 and ES8 trademarks at EU level	[5]
2024-04	Munich Higher Regional Court upholds the ruling on appeal — Audi prevails	[7]
2024-12	Australian IP office rejects Audi's opposition, finding no likelihood of confusion	[9]

The practical outcome: the SUVs are badged EL in Europe.

Newer markets are a separate question. In June 2025 NIO announced seven further European markets, and ET7 and EL7 were not on that list [8]. Which models a given market actually gets is best checked against the local importer rather than the announcement — for Hungary, electrive reported the start of sales in January 2026 [10].

3. The second trap: same name, different generation

This is where orders actually go wrong. A name is not a generation.

Both ES6 and ES8 have been through more than one generation in China, and the Chinese name stayed the same across them. We deliberately do not publish generation years or claim which generation a European badge "is": the mapping depends on the car in front of you, and a wrong year in a table is worse than no year at all.

What this means in practice: a listing that says only "ES6 front bumper" or "ES8 tailgate" is not sufficient to place an order. Body panels, lighting, brackets, suspension and interior trim all shift between generations. Confirm the model year and the VIN, and read the label on the part that came off the car, before committing to a part.

4. What to send when you enquire

A four-item checklist resolves most NIO identification problems before they reach the quotation stage:

The VIN — the only identifier that pins model, generation and market version.
A photo of the old part, including its label. The label carries the number that actually matters, and it removes guesswork about left or right and variant.
Position on the car — left or right, front or rear. Many body and trim parts are position-specific.
Market version — a car delivered in Europe (CCS2 charging inlet, European lighting specification) is not the same build as a China-market car (GB/T inlet), even within the same nameplate.

If you do not have the number, send the VIN and a photo of the label, and we will check whether we can source it.

5. A note on battery swap

On a swap-capable NIO, two consequences for an independent workshop:

High-voltage work sits outside normal independent repair. Pack removal, pack opening and anything on the high-voltage side belongs with technicians qualified for it.
Battery-related parts are not a normal aftermarket line. Structure, cooling and the pack interface are engineered around the swap mechanism, so treat them as a separate category from mechanical wear parts.

6. Scope of this page

This page covers name mapping only — which European badge corresponds to which China-market name. It does not cover part numbers, and it is not a repair instruction.

GNSGO does not currently publish a NIO part-number index. We are building that coverage; until it is published, we confirm availability part number by part number against your VIN.

Short answers

I have an EL7. Is documentation for the ES7 relevant?
It is the same model line, and Chinese-market material is the closest reference you will find. But market versions differ in ways that matter for parts — the charging inlet standard (CCS2 in Europe, GB/T in China) and lighting are the usual examples. Confirm against the VIN before ordering.

Why does a parts search for EL6 return nothing?
Because much of the available documentation and many catalogues were produced for the China market and use the China-market name. Search both names — EL6 and ES6 — then confirm by VIN and by the label on the old part.

Is the EL8 the same car as the ES8?
Same model line, but the name does not tell you the generation. Both ES6 and ES8 have been through more than one generation in China, and the name did not change with the car. Confirm by VIN and by the label on the old part.

Can GNSGO help with NIO parts?
We are building our NIO part-number coverage. Send us the VIN and a photo of the label on the old part, and we will check whether we can source it.

Important — please read before you act on anything here

This page is general information only. It is not a repair instruction, not a diagnosis of your particular vehicle, and not a substitute for professional advice. Have any work carried out by a qualified workshop. Do not attempt a repair yourself unless you are trained and equipped to do it.

High-voltage safety. This is an electric vehicle. Its high-voltage system can cause fatal injury. Never open, disconnect, cut or work on high-voltage components, cables or connectors unless you are qualified to do so, and always follow the manufacturer's own safety procedure.

Vehicles differ. Equipment, hardware versions and part numbers change between model years, markets and individual VINs. Confirm what applies to your vehicle before ordering or repairing anything. The manufacturer's documentation is the authoritative source for your car — where anything here differs from it, follow the manufacturer.

No liability. This information is published in good faith and to the best of our knowledge, but we accept no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from reliance on it. Use it at your own risk, and verify anything safety-critical before you rely on it.

Who we are. GNSGO is an independent supplier of parts. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or acting as an authorised agent of any vehicle manufacturer. References to a vehicle or model describe compatibility only.

Where this comes from

The name mapping and the legal timeline on this page are taken from public reporting, listed below. Application is confirmed per enquiry against the OE number and the VIN; we do not publish a NIO part-number index at this time, and we do not infer model-year fitment from a name alone. We have not drawn on NIO's copyrighted workshop documentation, and we do not reproduce any manual or wiring-diagram pages.

Sources

CnEVPost, 2023-06-16 — Nio launches ET5 Touring and EL6 in Europe: cnevpost.com
CnEVPost, 2022-10-07 — Nio explains why ES7 renamed as EL7 in Europe: cnevpost.com
Electrek, 2024-09-18 — Nio begins revamped EL8 deliveries in Europe: electrek.co
CnEVPost, 2023-01-20 — Audi wins lawsuit against Nio in Germany over ES6 and ES8 naming: cnevpost.com
CnEVPost, 2023-02-24 — Audi's request to invalidate Nio ES8 and ES6 trademarks in Europe rejected: cnevpost.com
Autocar — Nio Firefly confirmed for sale in Europe, UK set for October: autocar.co.uk
electrive, 2024-04-15 — Audi defeats Nio in legal dispute over S designation: electrive.com
CnEVPost, 2025-06-03 — Nio to enter 7 new European markets: cnevpost.com
electrive, 2024-12-12 — Dispute over Nio naming conventions: Australia rebuffs Audi: electrive.com
electrive, 2026-01-30 — Nio launches sales of its electric cars in Hungary: electrive.com

Send a VIN and a photo of the old part