NIO IncGross margin nearly tripled, R&D costs fell 41%, and CEO targets 2026 profitability

Nio's gross margin nearly tripled to 19% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while R&D costs fell 41%, as CEO William Li targets full-year 2026 non-GAAP operating profitability. Vehicle margin reached 18.8%, improving quarter-over-quarter for the fourth consecutive quarter, and SG&A expenses dropped 20.5%. The company's battery swap network, with 3,972 stations, saw other-sales margin hit a four-year high of 20.6%, converting a long-criticized capital expenditure drain into a recurring revenue moat. Q1 deliveries surged 98.3% year over year to 83,465 units across the NIO, ONVO, and FIREFLY brands, and Q2 guidance calls for 110,000 to 115,000 vehicles. Despite shares trading at $4.93, down 89% over five years, analysts hold a $7.35 consensus target that sits 49% above the current price.
NIO IncGross margin nearly tripled, R&D costs fell 41%, and CEO targets 2026 profitability
NVIDIA Corporation