NIO ES9 Spy Photos Leak, Appears Larger Than ES8

The flagship of NIO’s SUV family is about to lift its veil.

On September 9, leaked spy photos of what appears to be the NIO ES9 test vehicle surfaced online. The new model is expected to become the flagship of NIO’s SUV family.

Although the test vehicle was heavily camouflaged, some design features were still visible.

The Nio ES9, heavily camouflaged, is seen between two vehicles behind a fence, showcasing its rugged design and boxy shape. — NIO ES9 Spy Shots

From the images, the NIO ES9 exhibits a boxy and rugged overall shape. Compared to the new ES8 also seen in the photos, the vehicle appears slightly taller and wider. For reference, the current ES8 measures 5,280 x 2,010 x 1,800 mm (L x W x H), suggesting that the ES9 could set new benchmarks in size.

The front fascia features split-type headlights, and the roof-mounted LiDAR continues the “watchtower-style” layout, balancing functionality and recognizability. At the rear, the ES9 adopts a design similar to the new ES8, with a full-width light bar and clean body lines emphasizing the vehicle’s substantial presence.

Two heavily camouflaged Nio ES9 test vehicles parked in an outdoor area, showcasing a boxy design and rugged appearance. — NIO ES9 Spy Shots

On September 2, NIO CEO William Li revealed during the Q2 2025 earnings call that the Nio brand will launch two large SUVs in 2026: a five-seater ES7 and the ES9. The latter is expected to be the flagship model of NIO’s SUV lineup, while the ES7 will cater to market demand for high-quality, spacious five-seat SUVs.

Although Li did not disclose specific technical parameters for the ES9, it is anticipated to be built on NIO’s next-generation NT 3.0 platform, equipped with flagship features such as a 900V high-voltage architecture and the self-developed NX9031 autonomous driving chip.

The launch of the NIO ES9 comes at a time when competition in the luxury all-electric SUV market is intensifying. Recently, spy photos of what appear to be the Li Auto i9 and AITO M9L have also emerged online, indicating that major automakers are actively expanding their presence in the high-end electric SUV segment.

Notably, in addition to these two SUVs, Nio’s sub-brand ONVO is also set to deliver the L80 model in 2026. With the introduction of these three new SUVs, NIO will form a more comprehensive product matrix, covering various segments from mainstream to premium.