Nio has officially launched sales of its new flagship model, the ES9, following the vehicle’s debut at Auto China in April. Marketed as an 'Executive SUV,' the model is priced from around €49,500 without a battery, or approximately €63,000 including the battery pack.Image: NioMeasuring 5.37 metres in length with a wheelbase of 3.25 metres, the ES9 is billed by Nio as China’s largest battery-electric SUV. The dimensions enable a spacious three-row cabin with an interior length of 2.81 metres, more than 1.5 metres of legroom in the second row and over one metre of headroom across all seating rows. The SUV also features a two-metre panoramic glass roof.Cargo capacity stands at 816 litres, enough for up to 13 suitcases, while an additional 216-litre front trunk is integrated under the bonnet. Electric doors and extra-wide side steps are included as standard to ease entry and exit.Technically, the ES9 is based on a 900-volt architecture using semiconductor technology from Onsemi. The all-wheel-drive powertrain delivers 520 kW and 700 Nm of torque, enabling the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 4.3 seconds. Power is supplied by a 102 kWh battery, which provides a claimed range of 620 kilometres.As with other Nio models, the battery can either be charged via DC fast charging or exchanged in around three minutes at the company’s Power Swap Stations. The ES9 also features steer-by-wire technology with a variable steering ratio, alongside an active suspension system capable of adjusting ride height and damping characteristics. Much of the technology has been adopted from Nio’s flagship ET9 saloon.“As the culmination of NIO’s 11-year systemic innovation, the NIO ES9 created the smart electric flagship executive SUV category, setting a new benchmark in the segment,” said Nio CEO William Li.Inside, the Nio ES9 lives up to its billing as an ‘Executive SUV’ with a particularly high-quality finish. Nio has equipped the ES9’s interior with three tandem dual-layer AMOLED displays, including a 15.6-inch central screen and two exclusive 16-inch rear passenger screens with a resolution of up to 3.3K. The vehicle also features a sound system with 47 speakers and a rated output of up to 3,020 W for an exceptional audio experience.The ES9 is offered in three trim levels. The Executive Premium Edition is priced from 498,000 yuan (around €63,000), or from 390,000 yuan (€49,500) under Nio’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme. The Executive Signature Edition starts at 558,000 yuan (approximately €71,000), or 450,000 yuan (€57,000) with BaaS. At the top of the range sits the Horizon Edition, available from 628,000 yuan (€80,000), or from 520,000 yuan (€66,000) with the battery subscription model.Nio says deliveries of the ES9 in China will start on 28 May.Driver assistance systems also play a central role in the ES9. The entry-level version is equipped with a single Shenji NX9031 chip, while the Signature Edition and Horizon Edition feature a dual-chip setup based on two NX9031 processors. The system integrates 31 sensors, including three LiDAR units.According to Nio, the setup enables the SUV to support its ‘Navigate on Autopilot’ function, allowing the vehicle to drive semi-autonomously from one destination to another. The driver must nevertheless remain attentive and be ready to take control in complex traffic situations.nio.com, cnevpost.com, carnewschina.com