About one month after starting deliveries of its most expensive model it has ever developed, the EV maker Nio began rolling out the first over the air (OTA) update.
The model was one of the top attractions at the Shanghai Auto Show, where Nio showcased the fully active suspension that can adjust stiffness, damping, and height within one millisecond.
The first OTA software update for its flagship sedan introduces a lane-level navigation system with detailed, lane-specific guidance on the vehicle’s central display while offering recommendations for upcoming maneuvers.
It also includes countdowns for traffic lights, real-time lane markings, and 3D models of surrounding infrastructure to enhance clarity at complex intersections.
Previously available on the mobile version of Alibaba-backed Amap, the feature makes its in-vehicle debut on the ET9. According to user feedback on Chinese social media from ‘李大锤同学’, the system defaults to a 3D aerial perspective resembling drone footage and delivers more accurate route planning compared to traditional turn-by-turn navigation.
“Once this feature is activated, the default is a 3D aerial animation, like a drone is following you — the visuals during turns are super cool” one user wrote.
Although Nio did not detail how many ET9 units it delivered in April, weekly figures shared in China showed that 212 were recorded between April 14 and 20 and 250 between 21 and 27.
The company began volume deliveries of the model in late March, with William Li handing over several units to key executives during the Shanghai Auto Show last week, including CATL and ZF chief executives.
The four-seat ET9 starts at 660,000 yuan ($90,770) in China under Nio’s battery subscription plan, which allows customers to lease the battery separately. The price rises to 788,000 yuan ($108,400) with the battery included.
Launched at its annual event in December, the ET9 sold out its 999-unit First Edition — priced at 818,000 yuan ($112,600) — within 12 hours. Nio later introduced a Signature Edition starting at 808,000 yuan ($110,900).
The sedan features what Nio calls its most advanced suite of technologies to date, including an integrated hydraulic fully active suspension, steer-by-wire system, a next-generation digital cockpit, and a high-end audio setup.
“As an epitome of Nio’s 10-year innovation and the full-stack R&D capabilities in 12 areas, the Nio ET9 boasts 1,081 patents filed and obtained,” the carmaker said amid the launch last December.
