- The ES9 will be launched in the second quarter and feature new technologies shared with the ET9, William Li said Tuesday.
- The ES9 measures 5,365 mm in length, larger than the ES8.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) has filed for the ES9, a large electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) that will become its new flagship model and launch in the second quarter.
The ES9 appeared in a regulatory catalog released today by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the final major regulatory step before a vehicle model is permitted for sale in China.
MIIT is conducting a public disclosure for this catalog, with feedback accepted from January 9 to 15.
The Nio ES9 has a single page in the catalog, listed under model number NAL6543BSEVD1 with production at Nio's F2 factory in NeoPark, Hefei, Anhui province.
The SUV measures 5,365 mm in length, 2,029 mm in width, and 1,870 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm.
These dimensions exceed those of the third-generation ES8, which is already the largest electric SUV in the Chinese market at 5,280 mm long, 2,010 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,250 mm wheelbase.
The Nio ES9 has a curb weight of 2,845/2,870/2,915 kg and supports a maximum speed of 220 km/h.
Its declared battery supplier is CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750).
Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong mentioned in May 2025 that the company would launch its flagship SUV, the ES9, in the first half of 2026 -- the first public reference to this model.
In China, the number 9 is typically reserved for a manufacturer's highest-end model, as it is often perceived as supreme.
The ES9 name suggests this SUV will feature Nio's latest technological advancements, similar to the ET9, including two Shenji NX 9031 smart driving chips and the SkyRide chassis.
The model has completed the Tooling Trial (TT) manufacturing phase and will enter Pre-Production (PP), Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li told media outlets including CnEVPost on January 6.
The ES9 will launch in the second quarter, Li said, reiterating the timeline mentioned in October 2025.
All new technologies deployed on the ET9 will be applied to the ES9, Li said, adding that he believes the SUV will achieve the same success as the ES8.
The model differs from the ES8 by being better suited for business use, he said.
The ET9 is currently Nio's most expensive model, starting at RMB 768,000 ($109,990), making it one of the highest-priced vehicles from a domestic Chinese brand.
($1 = RMB 6.9826)
