NIO Unveils ET9 Flagship Sedan; Xingtuxingjiyuan ES Launches; Chery Fengyun T8 Opens Pre-Sales
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NIO ET9 Officially Unveiled at 2023 NIO Day
On December 23, NIO held its 2023 NIO Day in Xi’an. At the event, NIO officially unveiled its fourth-generation battery swap station and a 640 kW fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging pile. Simultaneously, the smart electric executive flagship sedan ET9 was launched for pre-order at a price of RMB 800,000, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
Here is a quick overview of the charging and swapping topics highlighted during this year’s NIO Day:
The 640 kW fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging pile has been announced, featuring a maximum output current of 765 A and a maximum voltage of 1,000 V. Deployment will commence in April next year.
The fourth-generation battery swap station has been introduced, equipped with four Orin chips. The number of battery slots has increased to 23, reducing single-swap time by 22%. Deployment begins in April next year.
NIO plans to build 1,000 additional swap stations in 2024, bringing the total network to more than 3,310 stations.
Next, we focus on the absolute star of this NIO Day: the NIO ET9, an executive flagship sedan set to begin deliveries in the first quarter of 2025.
Exterior Design: The NIO ET9 measures 5,324 mm in length, 2,016 mm in width, and 1,620 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm. These substantial dimensions provide a commanding presence, while the fastback roofline slopes gently from the B-pillar to the rear. The front overhang is notably short, maximizing the cabin’s share of the total length and ensuring generous interior space for this class of vehicle. Below are several first-time features on the ET9.
MicroLED Pixel Headlights: Featuring a total of 25,000 pixels, these headlights support applications such as projection, interactive lighting, and ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) pixel-level light control. Crucially, this solution offers lower power consumption and higher brightness compared to alternative technologies.
'Jinghong' Daytime Running Lights: The 'Double-Dash' DRLs have evolved into the 'Jinghong' (Graceful Crane) design. Compared to previous iterations, the illuminated elements are larger and fill more of the lens housing, delivering a more futuristic visual impression.
Touchless Frunk: The ET9 marks the first time NIO has equipped a frunk with touchless opening capability, offering a capacity of 100 liters. Previous NT1 and NT2 platforms could not accommodate this design due to various constraints; its inclusion on the new-generation ET9 platform highlights significant technical advancements.
Electric Doors with Touchless Entry: The four doors feature electric sensors with millimeter-wave radar ranging, enabling touchless inductive door opening. This is the first time NIO vehicles have been equipped with electric doors. Combined with welcome light carpets on both sides, the sense of prestige is significantly enhanced.
Exterior Voice Interaction: On the ET9, exterior microphones are distributed below both side mirrors and next to the high-mounted third brake light. According to standard microphone placement practices, a hidden microphone is also located near the front of the vehicle to achieve close-range 360-degree coverage for exterior voice interaction.
Aircraft-Style Rear Spoiler: The rear features an aircraft-style spoiler. Based on available images, the structural design differs slightly from those on the EC7 and EC6, appearing broader overall.
Inside the cabin, the NIO ET9 retains a familiar layout and structure.
The dual-IP instrument cluster is separated by a continuous Skyline screen that replaces the ambient lighting in both position and function. The traditional instrument panel has been removed, and the center console now features a 15.6-inch horizontal display.
The ET9 utilizes a HUD solution. This system differs from conventional HUDs; it is claimed to be the industry's only full-focal-range AR-HUD capable of delivering true 3D effects. It provides an equivalent 31-inch view at a near focal plane of 5 meters and an equivalent 120-inch view at a far focal plane of 15 meters.
The steering wheel features a column-mounted shifter design and a squarish shape. The ET9 employs steer-by-wire technology, meaning the steering wheel acts as a pure controller with no physical linkage to the front axle steering rack. When NOP is active or during static rest mode, the steering wheel retracts forward to maximize space for the driver.
The cabin is powered by the Snapdragon 8295 chip. Theoretically, supported by up to 60 TOPS of AI computing power from the 8295, NOMI gains localized AI capabilities and makes its debut on the ET9.
As a four-seat model, it features the 'Sky Island' and 'Executive Bridge' design. The seats, including the backrests, offer extensive forward recline capability. Each seat is equipped with an independent leg rest and footrest, and all four seats feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) headrests.
Additionally, the NIO ET9 is equipped with ShenJi NX9031, NIO’s first 5nm automotive-grade intelligent driving chip, as well as its self-developed whole-vehicle global domain operating system, SkyOS TianShu, which connects six domains: autonomous driving, smart cockpit, intelligent chassis, body, powertrain, and cloud services.
The NIO ET9 features the SkyRide TianXing intelligent chassis, characterized by a fully drive-by-wire architecture. In addition to the brake-by-wire technology already implemented, both steering and rear-wheel steering now utilize drive-by-wire systems.
Notably, the NIO ET9 utilizes a full-domain 900V high-voltage architecture. All onboard electrical components—including the battery, motor, wiring harness, air conditioning, DC-DC converter, and onboard charger—support 900V. The low-voltage system supports both 12V and 48V simultaneously. This capability provides significant development headroom for future new platforms. The battery pack supports a charging rate of 5C, with a peak power of 600 kW and a peak current of up to 772 A.
Quick Review:
During NIO Technology Day (NIO IN) in September this year, William Li unveiled a series of technologies. At the time, he casually mentioned that these technologies would be integrated into the next platform, leaving many with an abstract understanding of their significance.
And when the ET9, which actually incorporates these technologies, comes into my view, those technologies take on a concrete form—the ET9 represents the result of NIO’s years of R&D and responds to external skepticism regarding its long-term investment of hundreds of billions of yuan.
From a product perspective, the ET9 is the first vehicle on NIO’s next-generation all-new digital platform and serves as a towering flagship for the brand. For future models, beyond comfort-oriented features and positioning-specific hardware, digital and hardware platforms and architectures will become standard across the entire lineup.
Xingtuxingjiyuan ES officially launched starting at RMB 225,800
On December 20, the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES was officially launched. The Xingtuxingjiyuan ES comprises five versions:
Air Standard Range version at RMB 225,800;
Plus Standard Range version at RMB 235,800;
Max Long Range version at RMB 269,800;
Max + Super Long Range version;
Ultra Dual-Motor Performance version at RMB 339,800.
Chery has spared no effort in developing the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES. At the launch event, Yin Tongyue, Party Secretary and Chairman of Chery Holding Group, stated that the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES is a car built with Chery's soul.
In terms of powertrain efficiency, the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES achieves a CLTC-rated energy consumption of 11.7 kWh per 100 km, with the Max + ultra-long-range variant offering a range of 905 km.
Regarding safety, the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES is equipped with 30 active safety features and has passed China's new energy vehicle electrical safety technology verification system, receiving authoritative certification.
On the intelligence front, the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES features the Lion AI large model intelligent interaction system and the third-generation NEP intelligent driving technology. Powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Orin chips and equipped with more than 30 sensing hardware units, it aims to provide an end-to-end, full-scenario intelligent driving experience.
For driving dynamics, the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES utilizes a Cloud Motion architecture and an intelligent control chassis, featuring IAS intelligent air suspension and CDC electromagnetic damping systems to enhance driving stability and comfort.
Notably, Chery Automobile, the parent company of the Xingtuxingjiyuan brand, announced plans to expand its sales and service network. The company aims to exceed 300 stores by the end of 2023, increasing to over 460 in 2024. This move demonstrates Chery's ambition for market expansion and its emphasis on customer service quality.
Additionally, the Sterra brand plans to establish more than 120 brand stations across 28 core cities by 2024, complete with charging facilities to address charging concerns and improve user experience. Marketing outlets will also be equipped with charging infrastructure and connected to over 500,000 public charging piles to further perfect the charging network.
Quick Review:
Overall, the launch of the Xingtuxingjiyuan ES not only expands consumer choices for new energy vehicles but also reflects Chery’s proactive efforts in its intelligent and electrification transformation. As Yin Tongyue stated: We aim to make Xingtu Chery’s “BBA,” serving as the “apex” of the Chery Group’s brand pyramid.
smart Qiche Releases Sustainability Report
On December 21, smart Qiche released its latest Sustainability Report, detailing the company’s efforts and future plans to promote sustainable development. The report highlights smart Qiche’s transition from traditional internal combustion engine models to pure electric vehicles, positioning carbon emission reduction as a core objective of its business operations.
In terms of low-carbon management, smart Qiche showcased its carbon footprint management measures for power batteries and complete vehicles, both certified according to the internationally recognized ISO 14067 standard. This demonstrates smart Qiche’s commitment to reducing environmental impact while reflecting transparency and responsibility in product lifecycle management.
Data responsibility is another key component of smart Qiche’s sustainability strategy. smart Qiche has established an information and cybersecurity management system and successfully obtained ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications, representing high standards and dedicated efforts in protecting user data and privacy.
The report also emphasized smart Qiche’s sustainable practices in global operations, including integrating sustainability concepts into its expansion in global markets and enriching its pure electric product matrix. This strategy aims not only to drive innovation and R&D of its products but also to support the development of a circular economy, thereby reducing the environmental impact across the entire industry chain.
smart’s ultimate goal is to provide carbon-neutral pure electric vehicles by 2045. smart encourages employees, users, and communities to participate in sustainable development practices to achieve shared environmental goals.
Quick Review:
Overall, smart Qiche emphasized the proactive measures it can take as an automaker to promote environmental protection and social responsibility. As global attention on sustainable development increases, smart will continue to drive global energy transformation and zero-carbon transition.
DEEPAL Receives High-Speed Autonomous Driving Test License
According to official information, the DEEPAL SL03, equipped with L3-level autonomous driving features, has officially begun road testing.
During this L3-level autonomous driving road test, DEEPAL vehicles were equipped with a self-developed traffic jam autonomous driving system. Using multi-sensor fusion technology, the system claims to enable single-lane traffic jam autonomous driving on structured roads, supporting automatic lane keeping and adaptive cruise control. The system can automatically follow the trajectory of the vehicle ahead and adjust speed as needed. Additionally, through a driver status monitoring camera, the system ensures that the driver remains ready to take over control.
Notably, the testing location for the DEEPAL SL03 is Chongqing, widely known as the '8D City' due to its abundance of mountain roads, slopes, and curves.
Quick Review:
DEEPAL officially stated that L3 autonomous driving features are installed only on test vehicles and will not be fitted to production models for sale. However, if the DEEPAL SL03 achieves L3-level autonomous driving on Chongqing’s expressways, this would be a compelling demonstration of capability.
Chery Fengyun T8 Pre-sale Opens, Priced at RMB 130,000–150,000
Today, the Chery Fengyun A8 officially opened for pre-sale. The pre-sale price range is RMB 130,000 to RMB 150,000, positioning it as an A-class plug-in hybrid family sedan.
In terms of exterior design, the new vehicle is built upon the "Art in Motion" design language. The interior largely retains the layout of the fuel-powered version and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip.
For powertrain, the new vehicle is built on Chery’s Kunpeng Super Hybrid C-DM technology. It features a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with P1 and P3 electric motors and a single-speed transmission. The engine produces a maximum power of 115 kW and a peak torque of 220 N·m, achieving a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 7.6 seconds.
Regarding range, the new car is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 18.3 kWh, supports fast charging, offers an all-electric range of 106 km, and supports 3.3 kW external discharge.
Quick Review:
Chery is gradually expanding its presence in the new energy sector. In the pure electric field, Chery has established a layout with multiple brands including Chery New Energy, Xingtu, Jietu, and iCAR. With the launch of the Fengyun series, the passenger vehicle architecture matrix of the Chery Group will be further perfected.
Written by: Ameng Edited by: Ameng