NIO is ramping up artificial intelligence investments across its entire business operations while targeting 40-50% sales growth this year, according to a Chinese media report detailing the company's latest internal strategy.

According to Lei Feng Wang's report published on January 14, 2026, NIO founder and CEO William Li outlined the company's 2026 priorities during an internal meeting held that afternoon, marking his first major address to employees this year.

Central to NIO's strategy is the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Committee, announced via internal memo on January 5. The committee comprises nearly 30 AI technical experts from 15 first-level departments and will focus on tracking industry AI developments, mapping the company's AI capabilities, and building an internal AI talent community. Li emphasized that AI adoption must extend beyond autonomous driving to encompass manufacturing, supply chain operations, sales, finance, and human resources functions.

The Chinese electric vehicle maker expects to release three major autonomous driving software updates throughout 2026, aiming to return to the industry's leading tier after facing intensified competition. Li secured additional budget specifically for computing power to support these initiatives, despite tight overall company resources.

On the financial front, NIO reported significant operational improvements in the fourth quarter of 2025. Li indicated the company has "an opportunity" to achieve profitability for that period, driven partly by delivering 40,000 units of the redesigned ES8 model, which carries strong margins. This would represent a dramatic turnaround from first-quarter losses, marking NIO's entry into what Li termed the company's "third development stage."

The executive disclosed that NIO's non-vehicle business revenue could exceed RMB 10 billion (approximately US$1.4 billion) in 2026, including income from NIO Life merchandise, automotive services, and technology licensing partnerships. Fourth-quarter vehicle gross margin is expected to reach 17-18%, meeting previously stated targets.

For 2026, NIO aims to deliver between 456,400 and 489,000 vehicles, representing 40-50% growth over 2025 figures. The company plans to launch three new models, including the flagship ES9 SUV. NIO's ONVO brand L90 model secured the top position in China's pure-electric three-row SUV segment for 2025, while the compact Firefly brand exceeded initial sales expectations.

This strategic pivot comes as NIO commands less than 2% of China's automotive market, suggesting substantial room for expansion despite holding over one million cumulative deliveries.