Rumors are swirling through Chinese social media that NIO, the electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse from China, is gearing up to unveil its new flagship SUV, the ES 9, at the highly anticipated NIO Day 2025 event.
The buzz gained traction after screenshots of internal chats surfaced on Weibo, with several automotive industry insiders and bloggers lending credibility to the leak. Industry sources suggest that the ES9 will be built on NIO’s cutting-edge NT 3.0 platform and is expected to boast an impressive length of over 5.2 meters (17 feet).
According to the leaked information, the ES 9 will be a full-size SUV leveraging NIO’s latest NT 3.3.0 architecture, which is currently reserved for the company’s premium and next-generation lineup. NIO is also planning strategic updates for its ES 8 and ES 7 models, effectively consolidating them into its next-generation product portfolio.
Sources indicate that the refreshed ES 8, slated for an August launch, will be based on the ES 7 platform but will retain the ES 8 nameplate for strategic reasons. While the current ES 8 measures 5,099 mm (16.8 feet) and the ES 7 spans 4,912 mm (16.1 feet), the upcoming model is expected to stretch beyond 5.1 meters (16.7 feet). NIO’s product offensive doesn’t stop there, as facelifts are planned for the ET 5, ES 6, and other key models in its lineup.
This May, NIO is set to roll out updated versions of the ES 6 and EC 6, followed by refreshed ET 5 and ET 5 Touring models in June. These vehicles will showcase NIO’s proprietary Shenji autonomous driving chip and feature a completely revamped user interface, including a shift from vertical to horizontal displays.
While NIO has recently downplayed its platform strategy in public communications, industry analysts believe these models are all based on the NT 2.5 architecture.
NIO’s sub-brands, Onvo and Firefly, are also poised to expand their product portfolios. Onvo recently launched the L 60, the first model to utilize the NT 3.0 platform, with the L 90 set for its global debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this Friday. Not to be outdone, Firefly will unveil its inaugural model this upcoming Saturday.
On March 20, NIO announced the pilot launch of its autonomous driving system, NIO World Model, for select Pioneer Users beginning in April. Initially, the system will be available only on models equipped with the Banyan system based on the NT 2. 2.0 platform. NIO plans to expand NWM’s availability to all Banyan-equipped models by mid to late May.
