Source: NIO

NIO has secured a notable position in the premium sedan market, with its flagship ET9 outselling established German rivals in its first full month of deliveries in China.

The ET9, NIOs most expensive model priced at 788,000 yuan (c. $109,400), delivered 835 units in April, surpassing the BMW 7 Series (761 units) and Audi A8 (649 units) in China’s executive sedan segment, second to only the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with 1,673 deliveries.

Alternative data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported 810 ET9 deliveries in April—still ahead of 2 BBA German competitors—marking a strong entry for NIO into the ultra high-end market dominated by legacy automakers.

For Chinese consumers, BBA is a commonly used acronym referring to the three major German luxury car brands: BMW, Mercedes-Benz (Benz), and Audi. The term is widely recognized in China and symbolizes prestige, high-end automotive engineering, and premium status.

The strong debut follows Nio CEO William Li’s announcement that the 999-unit ET9 First Edition—priced at 818,000 yuan ($113,000)—sold out within hours of its December 2024 launch. The First Edition featured upgraded interior materials and exclusive badging.

Source: NIO

Launched in December 2024, the ET9 is NIO’s bid to compete with global luxury brands, featuring 17 pioneering technologies, including NIO’s self-developed Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip and the SkyRide chassis system—a fully active suspension with rear-wheel steering and steer-by-wire capabilities.

The sedan also introduces "Active Defense" safety technology, which adjusts ride height upon detecting an impending collision to minimize damage.

Powered by a 900V high-voltage architecture, the ET9 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and offers a 650 km (CLTC) range with a 100kWh 5C ultra-fast-charging battery.

Inside, the ET9 offers a Nappa leather-wrapped cabin, a 2800W, 35-speaker sound system, and dual LCDs—a dashboard-wide display and a central infotainment screen.

Source: NIO

The ET9’s early performance demonstrates that Chinese EV makers are gaining traction in the premium segment, leveraging advanced electrification and smart features to challenge incumbents like BBA vehicle.

"The ET9’s sales show that China’s high-end EVs can compete on technology, comfort, and performance," said an industry analyst. "This is just the beginning of a broader shift."

NIO’s overall deliveries hit 23,900 vehicles in April, its second-highest monthly total, though the bulk came from heavily discounted models like the ES6 SUV (6,866 units).