- Nio will hold a technology event for the ES9 around April 10, preparing for its real-life debut at the Beijing auto show later that month.
- Nio will upgrade the ES7 SUV to the third-generation vehicle platform in the third quarter and will upgrade the ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, and EC6 next year.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) is expected to unveil its new flagship SUV, the ES9, in mid-April, setting the stage for its appearance at the Beijing auto show later that month.
The ES9's technology launch event is tentatively scheduled for around April 10, Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong said during a weekend user engagement event. The exact date is subject to change.
This indicates the ES9 is poised to make its real-life debut at the Beijing auto show in late April — one of the world's most anticipated biennial automotive events.
The 19th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) will take place in Beijing from April 24 to May 3, 2026.
Qin first mentioned the ES9 in May 2025, marking the model's initial disclosure.
In China, the number nine is typically reserved for a manufacturer's flagship model, as it symbolizes supremacy.
The ES9 designation suggests this SUV will incorporate Nio's latest technological advancements — including dual Shenji NX 9031 smart driving chips and SkyRide chassis technology —like the ET9 executive sedan.
The ES9 has completed its Tooling Trial (TT) manufacturing phase and will now enter Pre-Production (PP), Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li told media outlets including CnEVPost at the Nio F2 factory in Hefei, Anhui on January 6.
The model appeared in a regulatory catalog from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earlier this month, revealing dimensions of 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, currently China's largest electric SUV at 5,280 mm long, 2,010 mm wide, 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,250 mm wheelbase.
The ES9 will be Nio's third model upgraded to the third-generation vehicle platform NT 3.0, following the ET9 and third-generation ES8.
The updated ES7 SUV will be launched in the third quarter, becoming the fourth model upgraded to the third-generation platform, Qin said during the weekend event.
Nio's core "5566" lineup — the ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, and EC6 — is expected to transition to the third-generation platform next year, according to Qin.
