Chinese EV maker NIO has officially unveiled the new ES9, a flagship all-electric executive SUV designed to push the brand deeper into the premium luxury market. Deliveries in China are scheduled to begin on May 28, with pricing starting at RMB 498,000 (about €63,200) for the Executive Premium Edition.
Customers opting for NIO’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription model can lower the entry price to RMB 390,000 (about €49,400). The Executive Signature Edition starts at RMB 558,000 (about €70,800), while the range-topping Horizon Edition begins at RMB 628,000 (about €79,600). With BaaS, those versions drop to RMB 450,000 (about €57,000) and RMB 520,000 (about €66,000) respectively.
The ES9 arrives as competition intensifies in the global premium EV segment. NIO positions the new model as a technological showcase, combining long-range electric performance, ultra-fast charging, advanced autonomous driving capabilities, and luxury-focused cabin innovation.
NIO ES9 Designed as a New Flagship Category
According to NIO, the ES9 represents the company’s most advanced production vehicle to date, built on more than a decade of research and development in electric mobility, battery swapping, software, and intelligent vehicle systems.
The automaker says the ES9 introduces more than 40 industry-first technologies and establishes a new benchmark for smart electric executive SUVs.
NIO Founder and CEO William Li described the ES9 as the culmination of the company’s 11 years of innovation, adding that the model effectively creates a new category of smart electric flagship executive SUVs.
Former basketball star Yao Ming, who serves as the ES9’s Chief Experience Officer, also appeared at the launch event to share his impressions of the vehicle.
Large Dimensions and Luxury-Focused Interior
The NIO ES9 measures 5,365 mm in length and rides on a 3,250 mm wheelbase, making it one of the largest electric SUVs developed in China. The design combines NIO’s signature lighting elements with a bold exterior profile aimed squarely at the premium executive market.
Inside, the cabin emphasizes spaciousness and luxury craftsmanship. NIO claims the ES9 delivers segment-leading passenger room, including more than 1.5 meters of second-row legroom and over one meter of headroom across all three rows.
The SUV can accommodate six passengers and up to 13 suitcases thanks to 816 liters of cargo space. A 216-liter front trunk further boosts practicality.
The Horizon Edition introduces exclusive design themes inspired by traditional Chinese landscape art. NIO says the interior includes detailed Su embroidery featuring nearly 400,000 stitches woven into decorative mountain-and-river motifs.
Advanced Comfort and Executive Features
The ES9 focuses heavily on rear-seat comfort and executive usability. Second-row zero-gravity seats feature a 2.3-meter cushion layout alongside a 42-point full-body massage system.
Among the standout features are array-based liquid crystal smart dimming windows that can switch transparency in just 17 milliseconds, creating a more private cabin environment.
An executive console positioned between the rear seats integrates dual 16-inch displays, a conferencing system, and a magnetic tea tray designed to support mobile business meetings and luxury travel experiences.
47-Speaker Audio System and Dolby Technologies
NIO equips the ES9 with its new LYRA 9.2.4.8 sound system, featuring 47 speakers and up to 3,020 watts of power output.
The company says the SUV uses the industry’s first fully integrated high-resolution audio system combined with diamond dome tweeters for enhanced clarity and immersion.
To improve cabin refinement, the ES9 also incorporates more than 150 wind-noise optimizations alongside Active Road Noise Cancellation technology. The SUV supports three Dolby-certified audio technologies for an upgraded entertainment experience.
900V Architecture, 5C Charging and Battery Swapping
The ES9 rides on NIO’s latest 900V high-voltage platform designed for faster charging and improved efficiency.
NIO claims the SUV supports 5C ultra-fast charging and battery swapping that can be completed in approximately three minutes. The company says the ES9 can deliver up to 620 km of driving range and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.
The launch also coincides with NIO’s continued expansion of its battery swap network. The automaker plans to deploy more than 1,000 additional Power Swap Stations this year and begin rolling out fifth-generation stations during the third quarter.
Smart Driving Powered by NIO WorldModel
The ES9 introduces NIO’s new NX9031 5 nm automotive-grade smart driving chip alongside the latest version of the NIO OS operating system.
The SUV integrates 31 sensing units through the Cedar AQUILA sensing platform and uses NIO WorldModel (NWM) AI technology to improve driving assistance performance in complex traffic conditions.
NIO says the system can better handle dynamic driving environments such as reversible lanes and tidal lanes while enhancing the overall Navigate on Pilot Plus (NOP+) experience.
Focus on Safety and Intelligent Chassis Technology
Safety remains a major focus for the ES9, which features a super cage body structure and up to 12 airbags as standard.
NIO also equips the SUV with model-based Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Emergency Steering, and omnidirectional collision mitigation technologies.
The new SkyRide Intelligent Chassis uses a 48V integrated hydraulic fully active suspension system designed to improve ride comfort, body control, and efficiency. Rear-wheel steering helps reduce the turning radius to 5.4 meters despite the SUV’s large footprint.
Additionally, the ES9 includes China’s first mass-produced steer-by-wire system approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
With the ES9, NIO is clearly targeting buyers seeking a luxury electric SUV that combines executive comfort, advanced technology, and long-distance EV practicality in one package.
