NIO ES9 Launch Confirmed for May 27 – Battery Rental Option Starts at 420,000 RMB

On May 6, NIO officially announced that its all-new flagship SUV, the NIO ES9, will begin global customer test drives on May 11, with official market launch and first deliveries scheduled for May 27. The ES9 first opened for pre-orders on April 9, with full-purchase pre-sale prices ranging from 528,000 to 658,000 RMB (approx. 73,000–91,000 USD). Under the BaaS (Battery as a Service) subscription model, pre-sale prices start at 420,000 RMB (capped at 550,000 RMB for the top trim).

NIO founder William Li described the ES9 as “the culmination of 11 years of system innovation” and “the pioneer of the smart electric executive flagship SUV segment.” As NIO’s largest and highest-positioned production EV to date, the ES9 directly challenges the Li Auto L9 Livis, AITO M9, and extended-wheelbase luxury fuel SUVs from legacy brands.

Pricing Strategy: BaaS Lowers Entry Barrier

The ES9 lineup comprises three variants: Executive Luxury, Executive Signature, and Horizon Special Edition. Full-purchase prices are 528,000 RMB, 588,000 RMB, and 658,000 RMB respectively. With BaaS, the corresponding pre-sale prices drop to 420,000 RMB, 480,000 RMB, and 550,000 RMB, plus a monthly battery subscription fee (from 1,128 RMB for the 102 kWh pack).

Early-bird customers who paid a 5,000 RMB deposit between April 9 and the final order lock date receive a 10,000 RMB credit toward the purchase price. Existing NIO owners can obtain 6,000–10,000 RMB in loyalty rewards, while Onvo and Firefly owners each receive a 20,000-point rebate coupon.

Dimensions and Space: Largest Chinese Pure-EV SUV

The ES9 measures 5,365 mm long, 2,029 mm wide, and 1,870 mm tall, with a class-dominating 3,250 mm wheelbase. NIO claims the cabin delivers “best-in-class” head, shoulder, and legroom across all three rows. Total front-and-rear luggage capacity reaches 816 liters, accommodating “six people with 13 suitcases.” Two seating configurations are offered: center-island (with fixed console) and walk-through (pass-through aisle). Maximum second-row legroom is 1.52 meters, and headroom exceeds one meter for every row.

Powertrain and Chassis: 900V Architecture with Steer-by-Wire

Built on NIO’s new-generation 900V high-voltage platform, the ES9 uses a front induction asynchronous (180 kW) and rear permanent-magnet synchronous (340 kW) dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. Combined output is 520 kW (approx. 707 hp) and 700 N·m of torque, enabling a 0–100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds.

The standard 102 kWh ternary lithium battery (supplied by CATL) delivers up to 620 km CLTC range. The ES9 supports third-generation battery swapping (under three minutes) and 5C ultra-fast charging. Notably, the ES9 is the first production vehicle in China to feature steer-by-wire technology, combined with eXtreme Active Suspension and rear-wheel steering, reducing the turning radius to just 5.4 meters. Self-developed six-piston brakes achieve a 100–0 km/h stopping distance of 35.3 meters.

Sensing and Autonomous Driving: Triple-Lidar Setup

The ES9 sports three high-performance lidars on the roof, part of the AQUILA Super Sensing System comprising 31 perception units (including 4D imaging radar and multiple wide-angle cameras). Computing power comes from the Shenji NX9031, the world’s first 5 nm vehicle-grade autonomous driving chip, running NIO’s World Model (NWM) and SkyOS. NIO claims the ES9 is the world’s only production SUV capable of “urban navigation-guided battery swapping,” autonomously navigating to and through a swap station.

Cabin and Luxury Features: Executive-Class Rear Seats

Inside, the ES9 features a 15.6-inch AMOLED floating center display, a 48-inch Skyline screen, and an AR-HUD. The interior incorporates embroidered landscape accents and an optional “Xuanjin” (golden) package with chromed and wood details.

The rear cabin is the focal point of its executive positioning. An intelligent executive center island integrates dual wing-style foldable desks, an 8-inch AMOLED control screen, and dual 50 W cooled wireless chargers. Second-row zero-gravity seats include the industry’s first 20-point mechanical foot massage plus multi-point pneumatic massage. A smart five-zone independent climate control system is standard, along with two 16-inch 3.3K resolution dedicated executive screens that tilt with seat position. The sound system, named “Nine-Heaven Lute 9.2.4.8 Immersion,” features 47 speakers and 3,020 W of total power, earning the world’s first triple certification for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Dynamic Enhanced Video across the entire cabin.

Market Context

In the run-up to the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, China’s premium flagship SUV segment has seen intense competition among “9-series” models: Li Auto L9 Livis, AITO M9, NIO ES9, Denza D9, Wey V9X, and Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X. While Leapmotor D19 targets the 200,000–250,000 RMB bracket, NIO ES9 starts at 420,000 RMB (BaaS). Xpeng GX tops out around 400,000 RMB, Li Auto L9 Livis is priced at 559,800 RMB, and the AITO M9 sits between 469,800 and 599,800 RMB. The launch of the ES9 strengthens the competitive position of pure-EV technology in the luxury SUV segment, complementing NIO’s first quarterly profit (Q4 2025).

Deliveries of the NIO ES9 begin on May 27. For the Hong Kong market, if the ES9 becomes available through official import channels and the “One-for-One Replacement” EV tax scheme, its third-generation battery swap technology and over 600 km CLTC range would pose a significant challenge to rivals such as the Mercedes‑Benz EQS SUV, BMW iX, and Tesla Model X Plaid. However, NIO has not yet announced a sales timeline or distributor plan for Hong Kong.