- A Nio executive publicly questioned an ES9 chassis test video posted on Li Auto’s official platform, signaling intensifying competition in China’s large SUV market.
- The Nio ES9 is expected to complete its 10,000th new car delivery in June, highlighting strong market demand for the model.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) is poised to reach a major milestone for its new flagship SUV (sport utility vehicle) ES9 this month, as its rivalry with local peer Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) intensifies.
Ma Lin, Nio’s vice president of branding and communications, said on Weibo on Friday that the ES9 will reach its 10,000th delivery later this month.
He launched a contest to guess the exact date of the 10,000th delivery and offered to give an iPhone 17 to each of the first three winners who guessed correctly.
Meanwhile, Ma publicly questioned a chassis comparison test video published on Li Auto’s official mini-program in the same Weibo post, which compared the suspension performance of the Li L9 and the Nio ES9.
Ma said that the video showed the Nio ES9 shaking at the same speed or even faster in standard mode compared to an ultra-soft mode where the fully active suspension works at a very weak intensity, which does not align with the car’s product settings.
He urged Li Auto to verify the authenticity of the video and clarify the testing environment and suspension settings.
The controversial video has since been removed from Li Auto’s official platforms.
Ma invited consumers to visit Nio stores to test drive the ES9. He noted that experiencing the chassis’s vibration filtering and noise levels firsthand would lead to a clear conclusion.
Nio officially launched the ES9 on May 27 and began initial deliveries the following day on May 28.
Nio has equipped the ES9 with a host of advanced technologies and set a starting price of 498,000 yuan ($73,640); although this price is quite high, the company is attempting to replicate the success of its other large SUV model, the ES8.
To enhance the vehicle’s appeal, Nio also appointed basketball legend Yao Ming as its chief experience officer.
The higher-trim versions of the ES9 are equipped with dual Shenji NX9031 chips and the SkyRide fully active suspension system. These advanced hardware configurations provide strong support for its smart driving and handling performance.
Customers currently ordering the entry-level ES9 face a delivery wait time of 3 to 4 weeks, while the wait times for the two higher-priced trims equipped with the SkyRide chassis system stretch to 16 to 17 weeks, indicating strong consumer interest in Nio’s premium chassis technology.
On the other hand, Li Auto recently updated its flagship SUV to defend its market share.
The company launched the updated Li L9 extended-range SUV on May 15 and introduced a higher-end Livis version. The Livis trim has a starting price of 509,800 yuan and is equipped with dual Mach M100 smart driving chips developed in-house by Li Auto.
However, investor reactions to the updated Li L9 have been mixed. Following the model’s release, Li Auto’s shares in Hong Kong suffered a significant plunge.
Citi analysts said that the upgraded Li L9 is not a game-changer, and its actual cost-performance is merely on par with its peers.
As Nio accelerates ES9 deliveries and Li Auto pushes sales of its updated Li L9, the rivalry between the two companies is escalating.
Nio priced the ES9 starting at 498,000 yuan ($73,400) including the battery pack, down nearly 6% from the pre-sales price announced last month.
($1 = 6.7626 yuan)
