Nio has officially launched sales of its flagship ES9 electric SUV in China, marking the market introduction of the company’s largest battery-electric sport utility vehicle following its debut at Auto China in April.
Positioned as an “Executive SUV,” the ES9 is available from 390,000 yuan (approximately €49,500) under Nio’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) program, or from 498,000 yuan (around €63,000) with the battery included.
The ES9 measures 5.37 metres in length and features a wheelbase of 3.25 metres, making it one of the largest battery-electric SUVs currently available in the Chinese market. Nio said the dimensions enable a spacious three-row interior designed to accommodate executive and family-oriented use cases.
The cabin offers an interior length of 2.81 metres, more than 1.5 metres of second-row legroom and over one metre of headroom across all three seating rows. A two-metre panoramic glass roof is fitted as standard.
Cargo space totals 816 litres, while an additional 216-litre front trunk is located beneath the bonnet. The vehicle also features electric doors and wide side steps designed to improve passenger access.
The ES9 is built on a 900-volt electrical architecture and utilizes semiconductor technology supplied by Onsemi. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces 520 kW of power and 700 Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 4.3 seconds.
Energy is supplied by a 102 kWh battery pack, which provides a claimed driving range of 620 kilometres.
As with other Nio vehicles, owners can recharge the battery through conventional fast-charging infrastructure or use the company’s battery-swapping network, where battery exchanges can be completed in approximately three minutes at Nio Power Swap Stations.
The SUV also incorporates steer-by-wire technology with a variable steering ratio and an active suspension system capable of adjusting ride height and damping characteristics. Several technologies have been adapted from the company’s flagship ET9 sedan.
“As the culmination of NIO’s 11-year systemic innovation, the NIO ES9 created the smart electric flagship executive SUV category, setting a new benchmark in the segment,” said William Li, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Nio.
The interior features a technology-focused layout with three tandem dual-layer AMOLED displays. These include a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen and two 16-inch rear passenger displays with resolutions of up to 3.3K.
Nio has also equipped the ES9 with a premium audio system featuring 47 speakers and a maximum output of 3,020 watts.
The model is offered in three variants. The Executive Premium Edition starts at 498,000 yuan with the battery included or 390,000 yuan through the BaaS subscription model. The Executive Signature Edition is priced from 558,000 yuan (€71,000), or 450,000 yuan (€57,000) under BaaS.
At the top of the lineup, the Horizon Edition starts at 628,000 yuan (€80,000), while customers choosing the battery subscription option can purchase the vehicle from 520,000 yuan (€66,000).
Driver assistance technology is another key feature of the ES9. The entry-level model uses a single Shenji NX9031 processor, while the Signature and Horizon versions are equipped with two NX9031 chips.
The system integrates 31 sensors, including three LiDAR units, and supports Nio’s Navigate on Autopilot functionality, which enables semi-autonomous driving between destinations under driver supervision.
Nio said deliveries of the ES9 in China are scheduled to begin on May 28 as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the premium electric vehicle segment amid growing competition from domestic and international automakers.