NIO's executive flagship sedan model ET9 hits market, delivery to begin in March 2025

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- At the NIO Day 2024 held on December 21, NIO officially put its new flagship sedan, the ET9, onto the market with a purchase price of 780,000 yuan for the complete vehicle, or 660,000 yuan for selecting the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) option. Besides, the model also came with the Launch Limited edition priced at 818,000 yuan for the complete vehicle and 690,000 yuan for choosing BaaS, with only 999 units available. Deliveries are expected to begin in March 2025, with priority given to the Launch Limited edition.

Photo credit: NIO

The NIO ET9 is positioned as the brand's executive flagship sedan and is the first mass-produced car in China to feature steer-by-wire technology.

The car retains NIO's signature family design, with iconic features like the X-Bar grille and Double Dash daytime running lights, giving the vehicle a strong, dynamic presence. The "Design for AD" concept continues with the front sensor layout, integrating three LiDAR units and cameras within the vehicle's aesthetic design.

Photo credit: NIO

The car's headlights use MicroLED technology, combined with the Aquila 2.0 Super Sensing system, to provide refined lighting with wide, bright, precise, and far-reaching capabilities. The sleek design of the ET9 extends from the front to the rear, forming a streamlined profile that blends classic business sedan appeal with a futuristic aura.

The Aquila 2.0 system introduces two wide-angle side LiDAR units integrated into the vehicle's metal fenders, enhancing both safety and assisted driving capabilities. The long-range LiDAR, powered by NIO's self-developed Yang Jian main control chip, provides clearer imaging, while the ET9 is the brand's first model to feature 4D millimeter-wave radar, significantly boosting forward sensing capabilities.

In terms of dimensions, the ET9 measures 5,325mm in length, 2,017mm in width, and 1,621mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250mm. It also features 23-inch forged aluminum wheels with the tire diameter measuring 790mm, creating a striking visual impact.

Photo credit: NIO

The rear continues the family design, with a distinctive full-width taillight. Notably, the ET9 is feature an active goose-neck rear spoiler, adding a sporty flair. It also debuts a hands-free electric front trunk, which can be opened via a foot sensor or external voice command, offering a 105L capacity.

Inside, the ET9 introduces a rectangular steering wheel for the first time and debuts a sapphire full-focus AR HUD, capable of displaying a 120-inch AR image at a distance of 15 meters.

Photo credit: NIO

As an executive flagship sedan, the ET9 features a four-seat layout with innovative "Sky Island" and "Executive Bridge" designs, along with an arch-shaped body for an exceptional rear seat experience comparable to business class. The second-row seats are designed like first-class airplane seats, with 22-way adjustments in the front and 20-way adjustments in the rear. The rear seats also offer a 135° reclining angle and 11 preset comfort features, while a 360° adjustable executive table and a smart fridge with a temperature range from -2°C to 55°C further enhance comfort.

The ET9 is equipped with a panoramic, interconnected rear-screen display with a 14.5-inch OLED screen that adjusts to the seat's position, ensuring a comfortable viewing angle at all times.

Additionally, the car introduces the NIO LYRA 8.2.4.8 immersive sound system, which boasts 35 speakers and a 2,800W power output. In the rear "Executive Bridge" section, a surround sound unit with high and mid-frequency speakers delivers a premium audio experience.

Furthermore, the ET9 debuts the Cedar intelligent system, including a new generation of perception hardware, a next-gen central computer, and the intelligent vehicle operating system "SkyOS". This system integrates NIO's first 5nm automotive-grade autonomous driving chip, the NX9031, combined with the SkyOS, to offer tight integration of computing power and algorithms, ensuring optimal safety and efficiency.

The ET9 features an advanced digital architecture, with a decoupled computational and communication framework that supports independent iterations across smart hardware, operating systems, algorithms, and applications. The architecture is composed of six core components:

The "brain" — Central computing platform

The "cerebellum and spinal cord" — Efficient regional controllers

The "neural network" — High-speed redundant communication network

The "blood circulation system" — Dual redundant low-voltage power supply

The "sensory organs" — Super Sensing system

The "soul and mind" — Vehicle full-domain operating system (SkyOS)

The vehicle also integrates a "full-domain 900V high-voltage architecture" that includes core electronic components such as batteries, electric motors, and air conditioning systems. With a maximum voltage of 925V and a peak charging power of 600kW, it offers a world’s leading charging current of 765A.

Photo credit: NIO

Under the hood, the ET9 is powered by a front 180 kW induction asynchronous motor and a rear 340 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, providing a combined power of 520 kW and a peak torque of 700 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.3 seconds. The vehicle features NIO's self-developed 46105 large cylindrical battery cells, which enables 255 kilometers of range with just 5 minutes of charging.

The ET9 also introduces the SkyRide intelligent chassis system, which combines steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and fully active suspension into a single integrated system, making it the world's first fully steer-by-wire intelligent chassis. The system includes an innovative active suspension with each shock absorber integrating an independent electric hydraulic pump, enabling rapid responses within 1 millisecond and precise adjustments. The suspension system allows for significant height adjustments and can adjust torque 1,000 times per second, with independent control of all four wheels to meet diverse driving scenarios.

Finally, the ET9's use of aerospace-grade steer-by-wire technology allows for improved steering efficiency, offering a 40% increase in transmission efficiency and the ability to upgrade via OTA. With a maximum rear-wheel steering angle of 8.3° and a minimum turning radius of 10.9 meters, the ET9 offers excellent maneuverability, particularly in tight spaces.

The vehicle's body features a high-strength steel-aluminum-magnesium alloy construction, with torsional rigidity of 52,600 Nm/Deg and a body strength of 2,000 MPa, ensuring enhanced protection for occupants. The side airbags extend to 2.3 meters in length and 0.67 meters in height, providing 100% coverage for both front and rear passengers.