- Nio Phone users can now open and close the frunk and trunk of the ES8 and ET9 without unlocking their phones.
- Nio launched the first-generation Nio Phone on September 21, 2023, and introduced the second-generation Nio Phone on July 27, 2024.
The Nio Phone appears to be not entirely dead, despite having been quiet for over a year.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) shared a video on Weibo Monday demonstrating that the Nio Phone, equipped with the latest software, can control the opening and closing of the frunk and trunk on the third-generation ES8 SUV (sport utility vehicle) and ET9 sedan without unlocking the phone.
This marks the industry's first smart scenario-based vehicle control feature, enabling users to trigger automatic opening/closing of the front and rear compartments by standing near or shaking their phone in various scenarios, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker said.
The feature is based on Nio's in-house developed Nio Link protocol stack, enabling deep smartphone integration and cross-device intelligent connectivity, the company said.
By integrating UWB high-precision positioning with smartphone motion sensor fusion algorithms, the system anticipates user intent and delivers natural responses, Nio explained.
Currently, all Nio Phone models support this functionality, Nio said, adding that more intelligent vehicle control interactions will follow.
This marks Nio's first announcement of a new feature for the Nio Phone since rolling out the SkyUI 2.3.1 system update in late January 2025.
Nio launched the first-generation Nio Phone on September 21, 2023, aiming to deliver enhanced interaction experiences through system-level integration between smartphones and its vehicles.
The company had said its goal was to release a new Nio Phone each year, following Apple's approach.
On July 27, 2024, Nio launched the second-generation Nio Phone, featuring the same processor as the latest flagship Android smartphone at the time.
Since then, Nio has not launched a new Nio Phone and has scaled back many non-essential operations to improve its financial position.
On February 5, Nio issued a profit forecast, anticipating its first quarterly profitability under both non-GAAP and GAAP standards in the fourth quarter of 2025.
