Global startup car company NIO showcased 11 vehicles at the 2017 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition.
The company also unveiled the ES8 SUV, its new vehicle for the China market that is planned for serial production later this year, and announced it will begin taking pre-orders of its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9.
The NIO ES8 is a full size 7-seater electric SUV with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The vehicle is over five metres long with a wheelbase over three metres. The ES8 has an all-aluminium body and chassis, front and rear motors with electric all-wheel drive, and active air suspension.
“Today we unveiled our new production vehicle, the NIO ES8, to the China market. It is another statement of our vision and technical and manufacturing capabilities," said NIO Founder and Chairman, William Li.
"It is a best-in-class product that showcases what is possible with electric vehicles. I am proud of our relentless focus on vision and action. From track to road, NIO continues to achieve major milestones every year.”
The ES8 has a swappable battery, providing a charging experience NIO say will surpasses refuelling at gas stations. The manufacturing and supply chain that will produce the ES8 is said to already be in place.
The testing program for the NIO ES8 saw prototypes travel thousands of miles. The SUV was tested in Yakeshi in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures can reach -30 degrees Celsius as well as Melbourne and Mildura, Australia, where temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius.
The ES8’s official launch will take place at the end of this year, with deliveries expected to begin next year.
NIO EP9 SUPERCAR
NIO also announced it will begin pre-selling the fastest electric car in the world, its flagship supercar, the NIO EP9. The first batch of six EP9s produced were for investors. NIO plans to produce a second batch of ten EP9s, and each one will be made to order. The NIO EP9 is priced at USD$1.48 million (NZ$2.1 million)
In November 2016, NIO unveiled the EP9 by setting the track record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In February 2017, it also set the record for fastest autonomous lap with the EP9 at the Circuit of the Americas.
