Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio is reportedly poised to reveal a flagship luxury sedan at its forthcoming Nio Day event in Xi’an, China, set for next month. The anticipated model, in development since December of the previous year, is expected to be positioned as an electric counterpart to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, contributing to Nio’s expansion efforts.
Sources suggest that Nio’s new luxury sedan, slated for a 2025 launch, will be presented as a Nio-branded product rather than under one of the company’s sub-brands. Built on the new NT3 platform, the sedan is rumored to feature an extensive wheelbase of 3.3 meters (10.8 feet), requiring compatibility with Nio’s third-generation battery swap stations.
Local reports indicate that this Maybach rival will debut Nio’s first model equipped with an in-house developed autonomous chip. While powertrain details remain unconfirmed, Nio introduced a next-generation electric motor boasting 300 kW (402 hp) in August. There is speculation that this motor could find its place in the sedan’s lineup. Existing Nio models, such as the ET7 and ES7, currently employ a 300 kW (402 hp) motor at the rear axle and a 180 kW (241 hp) motor at the front axle. It is plausible that the flagship sedan may adopt a similar configuration, or potentially feature a pair of the new 300 kW (402 hp) motors.
Nio Day, where the luxury sedan is anticipated to be unveiled, is yet to confirm a specific date, with the only confirmation being that the event will take place next month. Reports suggest a starting price of around 1 million yuan or $141,000 for the electric sedan. The unveiling could mark a significant step for Nio in the competitive luxury electric vehicle market.
