Nio ES9 spyshots reveal massive dimensions next to China’s largest electric SUV
Nio’s upcoming flagship, the ES9, was spotted next to the current China’s largest SUV, the Nio ES8, in China. The ES9 SUV is set to officially launch in the first half of 2026, according to Nio. Rumours suggest the car will be unveiled as early as late 2025.
Nio is a premium brand, and the ES9 will be positioned on the upper end of their lineup. It is an SUV alternative to the ET9 sedan, currently the most expensive Nio, which takes on Mercedes-Maybach in China.
The positioning of ES9 will be to compete not only with models from premium global brands, such as the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, but also with growing domestic premium brands, like BYD’s Yangwang U8L.
No official specifications for the Nio ES9 have been released yet, but from previous spy shots, we can infer that the EV will be massive, with an estimated length of around 5.5 meters. It is also wider and significantly higher than the ES8, with an estimated width of 2.05 meters and a height of over 1.9 meters.
For comparison, the Nio ES8 is currently the largest all-electric SUV in China, with dimensions of 5280/2010/1800 mm (length/width/height) and a wheelbase of 3130 mm.
The massive ES9 will challenge the size of the Yangwang U8L plug-in hybrid, which is 5.4 meters long and has exact dimensions 5400/2049/1921 mm with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm.
The ES9 will likely be equipped with the active suspension SkyRide, as seen in the ET9, and feature steer-by-wire, eliminating the physical steering column for a digitally controlled, electronically transmitted steering system. It is expected to feature a 6 and 7-seater layout.
Nio Group delivered 34,749 vehicles in September, up 64% from last year. The Nio brand contributed 13,728 cars, down 33% from last year. The Group’s growth was primarily driven by the entry-level brand Onvo and its newly launched full-size SUV, the L90. The updated ES8 launched on September 20 at Nio Day, and deliveries started the day after in China. Nio ES8 is sold out until March, according to waiting time data from the Nio app.
