Nio achieved a new daily record of 146,649 battery swaps on February 15, 2026, as China’s Lunar New Year travel rush began. This follows the company’s recent milestone of completing 100 million total battery swaps just days earlier, on February 6th. The surge in demand coincides with a forecasted peak in holiday travel, placing Nio’s infrastructure at the center of China’s electric vehicle (EV) mobility.
Expanding Infrastructure to Meet Demand
Nio has rapidly scaled its energy replenishment network across China. Today, the company operates over 8,600 charging and battery swap stations nationwide, including 3,700+ dedicated swap locations. Critically, Nio has prioritized highway coverage with over 1,000 swap stations strategically positioned along major routes. This includes:
- 9 key north-south highways
- 11 east-west corridors
- 16 major city clusters
- Connectivity to 550 cities
This expansion is not merely about convenience; it addresses a fundamental bottleneck in EV adoption: long recharge times. By enabling drivers to swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones in minutes, Nio is directly tackling range anxiety and making long-distance EV travel more practical.
Rising Traffic and NEV Adoption
The Chinese Ministry of Transport forecasts an average of 55 million vehicles on national highways during the Spring Festival, a 4.5% increase year-over-year. The peak day (Feb 22nd) is expected to see 71 million vehicles – double the normal volume.
Importantly, new energy vehicles (NEVs) are projected to comprise 22% of total traffic, averaging 12 million daily and potentially reaching 15.3 million on peak days. This demonstrates a clear trend: EVs are no longer a niche segment but an increasingly dominant force in Chinese transportation.
The Strategic Advantage
Nio’s battery swap record may soon be broken as traffic intensifies, testing the limits of its infrastructure. The company benefits from a unique positioning; while competitors focus on charging, Nio provides a faster, more efficient alternative.
China’s policy of waiving highway tolls during major holidays further accelerates EV adoption. This incentivizes travel, pushing Nio’s network to its capacity. The previous daily swap record was broken during last year’s National Day holiday, suggesting this trend will continue.
Nio’s success is tied not just to technology but to a strategic alignment with national travel patterns and infrastructure development. The company has positioned itself to capitalize on China’s growing EV market and the government’s policies that encourage consumption.
The data shows Nio is not just building cars; it’s building a solution for the future of mobility in China.
