- This marks the first official mention of the ES9.
- The name ES9 suggests that the SUV may feature Nio's latest technological advancements, similar to the ET9.
Nio (NYSE: NIO) is set to launch its flagship SUV (sport utility vehicle) ES9 in the first half of 2026, after beginning deliveries of its flagship sedan ET9 in late March this year.
The electric vehicle (EV) maker's co-founder and president, Qin Lihong, revealed the plan today at a user meetup event in Shenzhen, marking the first official mention of the ES9, according to several car bloggers present at the event who shared details on Weibo.
The Nio brand currently offers nine models: the ET9, ES8, ES7, ES6, EC7, EC6, ET7, ET5, and ET5 Touring.
The ET9, which began deliveries in late March, is Nio's flagship sedan, with a starting price of RMB 788,000 ($109,430) including the battery pack.
The ES8 is the company's current flagship SUV, with a starting price of RMB 498,000 including the battery pack.
In China, the number 9 is often used for a car manufacturer's top-of-the-line models, as the number is often seen as supreme.
The name ES9 suggests that the SUV is expected to feature Nio's latest technological advancements, including two Shenji NX 9031 intelligent driving chips and the SkyRide chassis, similar to the ET9.
The updated ES8 is set to launch between August and September, according to Qin.
Additionally, Nio's sub-brand Onvo will launch the L90 flagship SUV in August and the L80 SUV in the fourth quarter, Qin announced at the event.
Last month, rumors surfaced that Nio might unveil the ES9 large SUV at the Nio Day 2025 event in December.
The ES9 would be built on Nio's latest third-generation platform, the NT 3.0 platform, with a length exceeding 5.2 meters, according to the rumors at the time.
The updated ES8 is actually based on the ES7 SUV and may be named ES8 for strategic reasons, according to the rumors.
The current ES8 measures 5,099 mm in length, while the ES7 measures 4,912 mm.
($1 = RMB 7.2008)
The ET9 is Nio's highest-priced model and one of the few luxury sedans built by a Chinese carmaker.
