NIO Unveils ES9: The Largest Flagship Electric SUV in China
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO officially launched its ES9 flagship SUV on Tuesday, May 27, 2026. This marks the debut of China’s largest pure electric sport utility vehicle, backed by an aggressive pricing strategy aimed at capturing the premium market.
The ES9 launched with a starting price of 498,000 yuan ($73,470) for a full vehicle purchase, approximately 6% lower than the pre-sales price announced in April. With NIO’s innovative Battery-as-a-Service rental model, the price drops to 390,000 yuan ($54,000).
This massive three-row SUV measures 5,365mm in length with a 3,250mm wheelbase. It features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system that produces a whopping 697 horsepower, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.3 seconds.
Built on NIO’s new 900V high-voltage architecture with a 102 kWh CATL battery pack, the ES9 offers up to 620km of CLTC range. It also supports NIO’s signature 3-minute battery swapping technology. To build momentum for the launch, the company enlisted NBA legend Yao Ming as the vehicle’s “Chief Experience Officer”.
Deliveries began immediately on May 28. NIO management reported that orders for higher-priced trims far exceeded expectations, validating the company’s premium positioning strategy.
Source: https://electrek.co/2026/05/27/nio-es9-flagship-suv-launch-price-specs/