Nio has previewed the launch of its flagship ES9 SUV with a winter testing video

On Monday, Nio released the first preview video of the new EV SUV ES9, beginning to build anticipation for the large electric Sport utility vehicle ahead of its technology launch event scheduled for April 9 

Nio ES9 winter test

The video shows footage of the flagship model undergoing winter testing in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, carried out in extremely harsh weather conditions with temperatures dropping as low as -30 degrees Celsius. 

The short clip shows the ES9 successfully completing a tire blowout test at a speed of 150 km/h. Nio will also demonstrate an advanced version of a stability test featuring a champagne tower balanced on the front section of the vehicle. These performances are enabled by the ES9’s “SkyRide Intelligent Chassis.” The system integrates steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and a fully active suspension, coordinated through a centralized chassis domain controller. 

Champagne tower challenge

On ultra-low-friction ice surfaces, the system can coordinate braking, steering, and suspension with millisecond-level response times, continuously adjusting vehicle dynamics to maintain stability.

The video also compares the ES9 with the smaller Firefly EV on narrow roads, suggesting that the large SUV will offer a turning radius and agility comparable to that of a compact car. Nio is accelerating the launch timeline for its latest flagship model. Nio's Founder, Chairman and CEO William Li officially announced earlier this month that the ES9 technology event will take place on April 9, slightly earlier than the company’s previous guidance, which indicated around April 10. 

High-speed blowout test on ice

The ES9 represents Nio’s latest entry in the premium electric SUV segment, featuring dimensions of 5365mm length, 2029mm width, and 1870mm height, with a wheelbase of 3250mm. These measurements position it as China’s largest electric SUV, even surpassing the size of the ultra-luxury Rolls-Royce Cullinan (5341mm × 2000mm × 1837mm). To match its massive proportions, the vehicle comes with wheels up to 23 inches in diameter. 

The positioning of ES9 will be to compete not only with models from premium global brands, such as the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, but also with growing domestic premium brands, like BYD’s Yangwang U8L.