Nio to Release Major Software Update on January 10

Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X

Electric carmaker Nio is preparing to release a new version of its operating system (OS) Banyan to all customers in China next week, on January 10. On Thursday, the 3.1.0 version began rolling out to 1,800 Pilot Group users.

The update emphasizes three key areas: smart driving, the in-car AI voice assistant NOMI, and user experience (UX)/user interface (UI) enhancements.

Smart Driving Features

The update introduces Automatic Emergency Steering (AES) and a remote unpark function. The AES system automatically steers the vehicle to avoid collisions when a hazard is detected, working in tandem with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Unlike AEB, which stops the vehicle, AES can maneuver around obstacles such as pedestrians or other vehicles when braking alone might be insufficient.

Banyan is Nio’s operating system for their vehicles from the NT 2.0 platform on which the sedans ET7 (unveiled in early 2021), and ET5 are based. Additionally, the new versions of the sport utility vehicles (SUV) ES6, ES7, ES8 together with the Coupe SUVs EC6 and EC7 are also using the second-generation platform.

The remote unpark feature allows drivers to move their vehicle out of tight spaces or garages remotely, without needing to be inside the car.

NOMI Enhancements

Improvements to the NOMI AI assistant include a new voice tone, offering fluent English capabilities, and conversational responses with emotional dynamics. NOMI also now supports location-based Q&A, enabling it to provide answers tailored to the vehicle’s surroundings.

UX/UI Improvements

The updated UX/UI introduces a more intuitive display of the vehicle’s estimated range, now visible in the lower-left corner of the instrument cluster. Urban navigation bypass has also been optimized, ensuring smoother avoidance of roadside parked vehicles, construction zones, and other obstacles.

Last August, Nio had released the 3.0.0 version of the OS bringing five major upgrades to all the second-generation vehicles in China.