EV maker Nio is now targeting to launch its upcoming flagship SUV, the ES9, in the first half of 2026.
The new timeline was shared by company co-founder and President Lihong Qin during an event in Shenzhen on Friday, according to several automotive bloggers in attendance.
The model was previously rumored to debut by the end of this year at Nio’s annual event, though the company had not officially confirmed that timeline.
The ES9 will succeed the ET9 as Nio’s top SUV offering, following the ET9’s positioning as the brand’s flagship sedan.
As seen in the ET9, the SUV will feature steer-by-wire, active suspension, and rear-wheel steering.
Pricing for the ES9 is expected to begin below 800,000 yuan ($110,000) with the battery included, placing it in the same premium segment as the ET9.
EV previously confirmed rumors that the model will measure 5.2 meters in length, making it the most spacious vehicle Nio has ever produced.
Deliveries of the ET9 began in late March, following its December 2023 unveiling as a rival to high-end electric SUVs such as the Mercedes-Maybach EQS.
Separately, Nio plans to launch a refreshed version of the ES8 between August and September.
According to industry bloggers and media reports, the new ES8 is believed to be a rebranded next-generation ES7, introduced under the ES8 name for strategic reasons. It will be offered in three configurations: 5-, 6-, and 7-seat layouts.
The redesigned ES8 will feature a horizontal center screen and integrate Nio’s in-house Shenji autonomous driving chip, first unveiled in 2023.
Earlier this month, the company introduced updated versions of its ES6, EC6, ET5, and ET5 Touring models as part of a refresh across its portfolio.
Qin also revealed that Onvo, Nio’s family-focused sub-brand, will launch the L90 flagship SUV in August, followed by the L80 in the fourth quarter.
The L90 was unveiled in late April at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Nio aims to double its annual vehicle sales in 2025, supported by the rollout of refreshed models, the launch of new SUVs, and the debut of its most affordable EV under the new Firefly sub-brand.
“Our target is still the same, just to double the sales volume from last year,” founder and CEO William Li stated on the last earnings call in March.
Nio shares dropped 20% over the last month. As of the time of writing, Nio shares are trading 2+3.3% lower at $3.56.
