NIO Inc (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) opened pre-sales for the ES9 on April 9, 2026, in Hangzhou, revealing pricing that starts at 528,000 CNY (c. $77,300) with the battery included — or 420,000 CNY (c. $61,500) under the company's Battery-as-a-Service rental model.The entry-level BaaS figure lands well below the 500,000 CNY floor most analysts had anticipated for what NIO calls its intelligent electric executive flagship SUV. Three trims are available. The Executive Luxury starts at 528,000 CNY (c. $77,300) or 420,000 CNY (c. $61,500) with BaaS. The Executive Signature is priced from 588,000 CNY (c. $86,100) or 480,000 CNY (c. $70,300) with BaaS.NIO ES9 Horizon Edition (NIO)The range-topping Horizon Special Edition opens at 658,000 CNY (c. $96,300) or 550,000 CNY (c. $80,500) with BaaS. All BaaS variants carry a monthly battery rental fee of 1,128 CNY for the 102 kWh pack. NIO is accepting a 5,000 CNY deposit that doubles to a 10,000 CNY credit toward the purchase. The ES9 sits between the ET9 executive sedan, which starts at roughly 660,000 CNY under BaaS, and the third-generation ES8, which launched in September 2025 at 406,800 CNY and reached its 60,000th delivery on February 1, 2026. NIO president Qin Lihong confirmed the ES9 will officially go on sale in late May, with deliveries beginning June 1.NIO ES9 at battery swap station (NIO)At 5,365 mm long, 2,029 mm wide, and 1,870 mm high on a 3,250 mm wheelbase, the ES9 is only 17 mm shorter than a Cadillac Escalade but carries a 179 mm longer wheelbase. It surpasses the ES8 to become China's largest mass-produced battery-electric SUV. Seating is a standard 2+2+2 six-seat layout with an optional seven-seat configuration.A dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces 520 kW (697 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, pushing the SUV to a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). The 102 kWh CATL ternary lithium-ion battery, weighing 545 kg at an energy density of 187 Wh/kg, delivers CLTC-rated ranges of 580, 600, or 620 km (360, 373, or 385 miles) depending on configuration. A full-domain 900V high-voltage architecture enables roughly 255 km (158 miles) of range from a five-minute session on NIO's 600 kW hyperchargers, while a battery swap takes three minutes.NIO ES9 steer-by-wire (NIO)NIO has carried over the ET9's complete technology suite. The Skyline intelligent chassis integrates steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and fully active air suspension, shrinking the turning circle to approximately 10.9 meters — compact-car territory for a vehicle of this size. Three lidar sensors feed into the company's in-house Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip, a 5 nm processor that NIO says uses roughly half the power of competing flagship chips during city navigation assist. Inside, a 15.6-inch AMOLED display serves the front row while two 14.5-inch NIO Link screens cater to rear-seat executives, all running on the SkyOS Tianshu operating system with the NOMI Mate 3.0 AI assistant.NIO ES9 interior (NIO)The ES9 enters a contested segment. The AITO M9 has proven that a tech-heavy, large electric SUV can achieve strong sales volumes in China. The Li Auto L9 remains a force in extended-range family transport, and the Zeekr 9X has gained ground quickly.NIO is betting that its combination of aggressive BaaS pricing, a mature battery-swap network, and ET9-derived technology can pull buyers away from both domestic rivals and traditional combustion-powered options like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.Whether the ES9 can replicate the ES8's breakout success at a considerably higher price point will become clearer once deliveries ramp through the second half of 2026.Conversion rate: 1 USD = 6.83 CNY as of April 9, 2026