NIO announced on August 6, 2026, that its NIO Power network added three new sites in a single day—two battery swap stations and one supercharging hub. The company has now built 9,156 charging and swapping stations nationwide, including 3,999 swap stations, 5,157 charging stations, and 29,789 charging piles.
Network Scale: Approaching the 4,000-Station Milestone
NIO's energy infrastructure buildout has maintained a brisk pace through 2026. The August 6 announcement revealed three new sites added in a single day:
- Shanghai battery swap station No. 3,998
- Zhuhai battery swap station No. 3,999
- Anshun supercharging station No. 3,322
This brings NIO's total charging and swapping station count to 9,156 nationwide. The breakdown is as follows:
| Facility Type | Count | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swap Stations | 3,999 | On the verge of the 4,000 milestone |
| Charging Stations | 5,157 | Covering urban and highway scenarios |
| Charging Piles | 29,789 | Including ultra-fast and fast chargers |
| Cumulative Swaps | 110M+ | Serving multi-brand users |
This scale places NIO at the forefront of China's EV energy infrastructure sector, creating a three-dimensional service system centered on swapping with charging as a complement.
Network Density: Full-Scenario Coverage
NIO's energy network exhibits a clear layered structure:
- Urban Network: High-density swap station deployment in core metropolitan areas for daily commuting
- Highway Network: Swap stations along national highway corridors to support long-distance travel
- Supercharging Supplement: Ultra-fast charging hubs filling coverage gaps with flexible refueling options
With station numbers in Shanghai and Zhuhai reaching 3,998 and 3,999 respectively, the formal milestone of 4,000 swap stations is imminent. Based on NIO's recent construction pace, the 4,000th station is expected to go live within days.
Multi-Brand Service and User Experience
NIO's energy network is evolving from a single-brand service toward a platform model. The current swapping and charging infrastructure serves not only NIO-brand users but also sub-brands like Onvo and Firefly, with gradual opening to third-party brands. This platform strategy helps amortize infrastructure investment while improving network utilization rates.
The cumulative swap count exceeding 110 million demonstrates that battery swapping has evolved from a niche option into a refueling solution with substantial user adoption. For international buyers and dealers evaluating Chinese NEV products, NIO's infrastructure scale and operational metrics are critical reference points for assessing product viability and service sustainability.
Brand Amplification Through Celebrity Endorsement
NIO also announced on the same day that Yao Ming, Chief Experience Officer for the ES9 model, has officially taken delivery of the vehicle. Celebrity ownership cases amplify brand visibility and reinforce market perception of the ES9's premium positioning. This marketing move, combined with the energy network expansion news, strengthens NIO's brand image in the premium smart EV segment.
For potential partners in Central Asia, Russia, and other overseas markets, the scale and operational maturity of NIO's energy network serve as important indicators for evaluating the localization service potential of exported products. Learn more at EX1000.COM.
