Search for “Nio ET9 price” and you fall into a rabbit hole of yuan, battery subscriptions and China-only trims. The headline is simple enough: the Nio ET9 is one of the most expensive Chinese EVs on sale. But what does its 2025 price actually look like, and how does that translate if you’re a luxury EV shopper in the U.S.?
Quick takeaway
In 2025, the Nio ET9 starts around the mid‑$100,000s in China after recent price cuts, with the new Horizon Edition pushing it closer to $115,000 before local incentives. It’s priced squarely against long‑wheelbase S‑Class and Maybach‑adjacent territory, without being available in the U.S. at all.
Nio ET9 price overview for 2025
Nio ET9 headline pricing in late 2025
To orient you: in December 2024, Nio launched the ET9 in China with a starting price of RMB 788,000 including the 100‑kWh battery pack, roughly $108,000 at the time. In August 2025, amid a brutal Chinese EV price war, Nio trimmed that to about RMB 768,000 for the base car, with the newly added Horizon Edition starting at RMB 818,000 including the pack.
If you opt into Nio’s Battery‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS) model, where you pay less for the car but rent the battery, you’re looking at entry pricing around RMB 660,000 plus a monthly fee in the low four figures (RMB). That structure matters if you’re comparing ET9 prices to traditional “battery included” luxury EVs from Mercedes, BMW or Audi.
Currency math is a moving target
Online ET9 pricing in USD will never be perfectly consistent. Exchange rates, regional incentives and Nio’s ongoing price adjustments in China all move the needle. Always treat dollar figures as approximations and anchor on the RMB list price if you’re comparing.
ET9 trims, Horizon Edition and BaaS pricing explained
Nio doesn’t bother with a bargain configuration here. The ET9 is a four‑seat rolling power suit, and every version is expensive. What changes between trims is mostly how much theater you get with your tech.
Nio ET9 trims and pricing snapshot (China, late 2025)
Battery‑included list prices are approximate and based on publicly reported Chinese MSRP figures. Dollar equivalents are for orientation only.
| Trim | Battery ownership | Approx. list price (RMB) | Approx. position |
|---|---|---|---|
| ET9 BaaS | Battery rented | ≈ 660,000 | Lower entry price; monthly battery fee applies |
| ET9 base | Battery included | ≈ 768,000 (post‑cut) | Core flagship sedan price point |
| ET9 Horizon Edition | Battery included | ≈ 818,000 | Design‑led, ultra‑luxury variant targeting Maybach‑type buyers |
If you’re cross‑shopping this against German flagships, focus less on the exact exchange rate and more on where the ET9 sits relative to S‑Class, EQS and i7 pricing.
What is BaaS, exactly?
With Battery‑as‑a‑Service you buy the car without owning the pack. That drops the sticker price but adds a fixed monthly battery rental. It also lets you swap to fresh packs at Nio’s swap stations, which matters more in China than it ever will in the U.S. without that infrastructure.
- ET9 BaaS: lowest upfront cost, highest long‑term commitment if you keep the car for years.
- ET9 base: the pricing benchmark; this is the number most media outlets quote when they write about “Nio ET9 price”.
- ET9 Horizon Edition: a lightly gilded lily, same basic hardware, but with design and materials turned up to eleven for status buyers.
What you actually get for that ET9 price tag
On paper, the ET9 is what happens when an engineering department is told to build a car that can sit at the same table as a Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class and not flinch. You’re paying for technology density, battery and a cabin that’s less like a car interior and more like a first‑class lounge.
Key value pillars behind the ET9 price
Where the money goes when you sign that very large check
Big battery, big architecture
The ET9 runs a ~100‑kWh pack on a 900‑V high‑voltage architecture. That means serious charging performance in markets where you can actually feed it, and a real‑world highway range aimed at executive shuttling, not hypermiling.
Flagship‑level performance
With roughly 520 kW (around 697 hp) on tap and all‑wheel drive, the ET9 doesn’t chase supercar numbers, but it has more than enough shove to embarrass the business‑class competition when you merge.
Rear‑seat as the main event
The car is a four‑seat layout by default; that tells you everything. Electric reclining thrones, full‑length console, screens, work surfaces, it’s built around the person being driven, not the one driving.
Tech stack
Nio loads the ET9 with its latest assisted‑driving hardware, high‑resolution lidar, multiple cameras and a fast in‑car computer. Whether you use every last ADAS feature is beside the point; at this end of the market, buyers pay for headroom and future updates.
Ride and refinement
Adaptive suspension, isolation levels more akin to a sound studio and a body that glides rather than drives, this is supposed to feel like a moving conference room. If the EQS feels like a tech pod and the i7 like a driver’s limousine, the ET9 positions itself as a mobile boardroom.
How to judge value at this level
Once you’re north of $100,000, there is no rational payoff at the pump. It’s about time saved, stress reduced and the message the car sends when it glides silently to the curb. Judge the ET9 (or any rival) on that, not on dollars per kWh or 0–60 bragging rights.
How Nio ET9 pricing compares to German luxury EVs
If you strip away badges and just look at price bands, the ET9 is aiming at the same wallets that currently buy long‑wheelbase Mercedes S‑Class, BMW 7 Series / i7 and Audi A8 in chauffeur spec. In electric terms, it overlaps EQS and i7 money, and noses toward the upper EQS SUV / Maybach EQS territory when fully dressed.
Where the ET9 sits in the luxury EV price universe
Approximate starting prices for flagship EV sedans in late 2025, before options and local incentives.
| Model | Market | Approx. starting price (USD) | Position vs ET9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nio ET9 (base, battery included) | China only | Low‑ to mid‑$100k equivalent | Benchmarks German ICE and EV flagships on tech and rear‑seat status |
| Mercedes‑Benz EQS Sedan | Global | Mid‑$100k | Similar band; EQS leans comfort, ET9 leans tech‑and‑chauffeur |
| BMW i7 xDrive variants | Global | Mid‑ to high‑$100k | Direct overlap; i7 available in U.S., ET9 is not |
| Mercedes‑Maybach EQS SUV / S‑Class Maybach | Global (limited) | High‑$100k to $200k+ | ET9 Horizon Edition creeps toward this space on image, not price. |
These are broad bands, not exact MSRPs; every one of these cars can be optioned well beyond its starting price.
The quiet headline
The ET9 isn’t cheap for a Chinese EV. It’s cheap for a Maybach alternative. That’s the point: German‑flagship levels of presence at what is, in that rarefied air, an aggressive price.
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Ownership costs, depreciation and resale
Sticker price is only half the story. In China, Nio blurs the line between purchase and subscription with BaaS, swapping infrastructure, and aggressive financing. For a private buyer or small business, that changes how you think about the ET9’s true cost over time.
Key cost questions before you sign for an ET9
1. Are you buying the battery or renting it?
With BaaS, your monthly obligation looks more like a lease, even if you technically own the car. That can smooth cash flow but makes the “cheap Maybach” narrative fuzzier over ten years.
2. How long do you plan to keep it?
These cars are technology‑forward. If you cycle vehicles every 3–4 years, you may never feel the pain of long‑term depreciation. If you keep cars a decade, the pace of EV progress matters more than in a gas S‑Class.
3. What’s your charging reality?
The ET9’s 900‑V architecture wants serious DC infrastructure. In China’s big cities that’s increasingly available. In other markets, you might be paying for charging capability you can’t fully use.
4. How important is brand cachet?
Resale on a six‑figure EV from a still‑emerging luxury brand is inherently more volatile than on a Mercedes with a century of history. Early adopters know they are taking a calculated bet.
Depreciation will be brutal, because it always is
Six‑figure luxury EVs shed value fast, no matter the logo. First owners effectively fund the R&D so second owners can pick up the car for half price a few years later. If you care about value, you want to be that second owner, not the first.
Can you actually buy a Nio ET9 in the U.S.?
Short answer: no. The ET9 is not sold in the United States as of late 2025, and there’s no credible roadmap to full U.S. retail in the near term. Trade tensions, crash‑test requirements, dealer‑franchise politics and the complexity of building out Nio’s battery‑swap ecosystem all make a U.S. launch a heavy lift.
Could a stray ET9 eventually appear here as a privately imported curiosity? Possibly, years from now, and only via complicated, expensive channels. But if you’re in the States searching “Nio ET9 price,” you’re really window‑shopping: using Nio’s big flagship as a reference point while you look for something you can actually buy and service locally.
Why this still matters if you live in the U.S.
The ET9 is a pressure point. Its China‑only price puts heat on German brands globally to justify their own six‑figure EVs. Even if you never see an ET9 in the wild, its existence influences how much you pay for an EQS, i7, Lucid Air, or the used luxury EV you ultimately pick.
Who the Nio ET9 really makes sense for
The ET9 is a car for people who treat traffic like an extension of their corner office. It’s less “I love driving” and more “I never want to think about driving.” If you’re in a market where Nio actually operates, its pricing makes a ruthless kind of sense.
Ideal ET9 buyer profiles
If you recognize yourself here, you’re the target audience
Chauffeured executive
You’re rarely behind the wheel. Your car is a business tool and a status signal, not a hobby. Rear‑seat comfort and brand image matter more than steering feel.
Corporate fleet / VIP shuttle
Your company runs cars for visiting executives and key clients. You want something that says “we take you seriously” without simply defaulting to an S‑Class.
Tech‑forward wealth
You like being a half‑step ahead of the curve and don’t lose sleep over depreciation. The ET9 is your way of saying you know what’s happening in Shanghai as well as in Stuttgart.
If you’re a driver first, not a passenger
You might actually be happier in something smaller, sharper and half the price. A good BMW i5, Porsche Taycan or even a well‑specced Model S on the used market will give you more joy per mile for far less money.
Smarter used EV alternatives if you’re in the U.S.
If the Nio ET9 has you daydreaming about a serene, high‑tech electric cocoon but you live in the U.S., your most rational move is to let someone else eat the first-owner depreciation and shop the used luxury EV market instead.
Used luxury EV sedans to look for
- Mercedes‑Benz EQS: Quiet, plush, and increasingly affordable used as early cars come off lease.
- BMW i7: If you want something that feels closer to the ET9 in mission, executive sedan first, EV second.
- Lucid Air: U.S.‑built, huge range, and already showing serious depreciation curves that favor second owners.
- Tesla Model S: Less opulent, more minimalist tech pod, but with a charging network that still embarrasses most rivals.
How Recharged fits into the picture
At Recharged, every used EV comes with a Recharged Score Report, including verified battery health and fair‑market pricing, so you’re not guessing how much life is left in a six‑figure sedan’s most expensive component.
You can browse and buy entirely online, get EV‑specialist support, arrange financing, or trade in your current car without ever setting foot in a showroom. If you want to get hands‑on, there’s also a physical Experience Center in Richmond, VA.
Checklist: translating Nio ET9 envy into a smart U.S. purchase
1. Decide if you’re paying for comfort or image
The ET9 blends both, but in the real world you may be happier prioritizing ride quality and cabin quiet over the rarefied badge game.
2. Focus on battery health first
In a used EV, the pack is the ballgame. Look for objective diagnostics, like the Recharged Score battery report, rather than relying on a dash‑display range estimate.
3. Map your charging reality
Fast‑charge specs only matter if you have access to reliable DC fast charging on your routes. Otherwise, a quieter, slower‑charging luxury EV may suit you just fine.
4. Compare total cost, not just price
Insurance, charging costs, maintenance and depreciation all add up. A used EQS or Model S that’s already taken its big value hit may cost less to own than a cheaper new EV.
Nio ET9 price: FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Nio ET9 pricing
The Nio ET9 price tells you where the electric luxury arms race has arrived: quietly beyond rational justification and deep into the realm of statement pieces. In China, it’s a compelling alternative to the default German limousines. In the U.S., it’s a useful benchmark, a reminder that the smartest move is often to let someone else buy the bleeding‑edge flagship, then scoop up a well‑cared‑for luxury EV on the used market with verified battery health and transparent pricing. That’s where platforms like Recharged quietly rewrite the script, turning six‑figure excess into something closer to smart, long‑range comfort.
