NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 19:30 ET — Market closed
- NIO said December deliveries hit a monthly record of 48,135 vehicles, up 54.6% from a year earlier
- The U.S.-listed shares last closed at $5.10, down 7.4% in the prior session
- Investors are weighing delivery momentum against China’s fierce EV competition heading into Jan. 2 trading
NIO Inc said it delivered a record 48,135 vehicles in December, capping a record quarter for the Chinese electric-vehicle maker. Its U.S.-listed shares last closed at $5.10, down 7.4%, with Wall Street shut on Thursday for the New Year’s Day holiday.
The delivery tally matters because it is one of the few high-frequency readouts investors get from Chinese EV makers. With no U.S. trading session on Thursday, the update sets the tone for how the stock could open when markets return on Friday.
It also lands as sentiment around China’s auto sector remains sensitive to signs of demand cooling and intensifying competition. BYD, the country’s largest EV maker, reported its weakest annual sales growth in five years and said December sales fell 18.3% from a year earlier, according to data in a stock filing. 1
NIO said it delivered 124,807 vehicles in the fourth quarter, a quarterly record, and 326,028 vehicles in 2025, an annual record. The company said cumulative deliveries reached 997,592 vehicles as of Dec. 31, 2025, putting it just shy of the 1 million mark. 2
A jump in December deliveries also pushed the company past its prior monthly high set in October, according to CnEVPost, which tracks the sector’s monthly reports. The outlet said the December surge was driven by strong performance of NIO’s ES8 SUV, while deliveries at its Onvo sub-brand cooled from November levels. 3
Peers also posted month-end updates that investors often trade as a “sector tape” for China EV demand. XPeng said it delivered 37,508 vehicles in December and 429,445 vehicles in 2025. 4
Li Auto said it delivered 44,246 vehicles in December and 109,194 vehicles in the fourth quarter. 5
For NIO, the key question is whether record volume translates into improving profitability as competition stays fierce. Price cuts and feature giveaways in China have kept pressure on margins across the EV industry, leaving delivery growth alone less decisive for the stock.
Investors will also watch how NIO’s sales mix evolves across its brands, including the ramp of newer lines alongside its core premium models. That mix can shift average selling prices and costs, which traders tend to focus on when delivery growth accelerates.
Before the next session, markets will reopen on Jan. 2 with U.S. data on initial jobless claims due at 8:30 a.m. ET and a construction release scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET. Traders also have the U.S. employment report on the calendar for Jan. 9.
On the chart, traders often treat the $5 area as a psychological level for NIO, given where the stock ended the last session. A move back toward the mid-$5 range would put the prior close zone back in play, while a break below $5 would leave the shares exposed to another momentum test.
Beyond deliveries, the next catalyst many investors look for is the company’s next quarterly results and guidance updates on pricing, costs and margins. Nasdaq’s earnings page did not list a confirmed earnings date for NIO at the time of publication.
