Nio opens test drives of ET9, deliveries to begin on Mar 29

Nio today began allowing general visitors to test drive its executive flagship sedan ET9, with deliveries to begin on Mar 29. Customers who pay a deposit to purchase an ET9 on or before April 30 will receive upgraded benefits. (Nio ET9. Image credit: Nio) Nio (NYSE: NIO) today began allowing general visitors to test drive its executive flagship sedan ET9, with deliveries to begin on March 29. The electric vehicle (EV) maker announced this in an article posted on the Nio App today. "Nio ET9 is now open for test drives nationwide. From now on, you can contact the Nio ET9 exclusive consultant to make an appointment," it said. The ET9 test drive opening is slightly earlier than what Nio had previously planned for this weekend. The company will announce its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024 before the US markets open on Friday, March 21. Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li shared a short video on Weibo today, showing ET9 vehicles that had just left the production line. "I'm on my way to provide a test drive for one of the first customers to place an order. I'll share a video of the test drive later," Li wrote. Nio unveiled the ET9 and started taking pre-orders on Nio Day 2023 in December 2023, attempting to enter the luxury executive sedan market dominated by foreign brands including Mercedes-Benz Maybach. The ET9 was officially launched on Nio Day 2024 on December 21, 2024, with a starting price of RMB 788,000 yuan ($108,930) including the battery pack, making it Nio's most expensive model. The SkyRide intelligent chassis system is one of the biggest selling points of the ET9, which Nio claims is the world's first integrated hydraulic fully active suspension. The suspension system can achieve instantaneous adjustment of stiffness, damping and height, resulting in better ride comfort and higher safety, the company previously said. Earlier this month, Nio shared a new video showing the ET9's ability to keep its wheels glued to the road while going over a ramp at 80 km/h. The company invited a number of media reporters and influencers to test drive the ET9 this month, and many of them praised the model's chassis capabilities on social media. The ET9 will be delivered starting March 29, largely in the sequence of the order lock-ins, Nio said today on the Nio App. Nio offered a limited-edition of the ET9 at launch, starting at RMB 818,000 yuan including the battery, with only 999 units available. The limited-edition models, which sold out within 12 hours of going on sale, will be delivered first, the company previously said. Nio also announced today that customers who pay a deposit to purchase the ET9 on or before April 30 will receive upgraded benefits. The previously announced five-year free battery swap service, up to 20 times per year, has been upgraded to 10 years free service, up to 6 times per month. The free usage of the NOP+ (Navigate on Pilot Plus) driver assistance function has been upgraded from the previous five years to 10 years. [Video] Nio shows off ET9's safety in extreme scenarios as Chinese EV makers race for better tech