NIO Launches Big Upgrades to Top Selling EC6 & ES6

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Last Updated on: 17th May 2025, 12:09 am

NIO has just launched upgrades to its EC6 and ES6 electric SUVs. The Chinese EV market is extremely competitive, and you have to be constantly rolling out new or very nicely upgraded EV models to stay competitive. With the EC6 and ES6 being core models for NIO, this update is critical. Let’s roll through what’s new.

To start, the new ES6 starts at RMB 338,000 ($46,899) and the new EC6 starts at RMB 358,000 ($49,674). Or you can get the models with a battery as a service (BaaS) subscription starting from RMB 268,000 ($37,186) and RMB 288,000 ($39,961), respectively.

Initial deliveries begin in four days, on May 20. There are bonuses for early buyers, too. “Users who confirm an order before June 30, 2025, will receive four exclusive benefits worth RMB 54,300, including five-year free Power Swap (240 Power Swap vouchers), five-year free subscription to Navigate on Pilot Plus (NOP+), 50 flexible battery upgrade vouchers, and a free onboard AC charger which can be converted to RMB 5,000 cash voucher for vehicle options. Besides, the first owners also enjoy a six-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty, 10-year unlimited powertrain warranty, six-year free car connectivity (up to 8G/month), and lifetime free roadside rescue. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, existing NIO users also enjoy exclusive repurchase perks.” That’s quite a suite of extras. Expect a surge in sales right at the start to kick things off. The bigger question is how well the models will do long term. We’ll have to keep an eye on Jose Pontes’ monthly EV sales reports for China to see. Up to now, going back to these models’ launches, 370,000 units of the ES6 and EC6 have been sold so far. NIO claims that the models have a whopping 49% of the premium battery electric SUV market (electric SUVs priced above RMB 300,000).

Here’s more on the upgraded models: “Featuring a 40% hardware refresh and over 200 features as standard configuration, the New ES6 and EC6 redefine the benchmark for premium smart electric SUVs through three core enhancements: elevated premiumness, smarter technology, and more comprehensive protection.

“The design evolution conveys a stronger and more confident presence. Featuring a new ADB headlight design, together with the elevated aero edges and thicker Double-Dash DRL, the updated models boast a more assertive stance and sculpted contours, especially the powerful front fascia. The new exterior color, New Moon Silver, and 21-inch wheels further highlight the models’ premium appeal.

“The interior of the New ES6 and EC6 takes comfort to the next level. The larger and clearer 15.6-inch horizontal AMOLED center display complements the 19.4-inch ultra-large W-HUD and 800 MP ultra-HD streaming rearview mirror, reimagining premium cabin experience with technology. The seats offer sofa-like relaxation as they’re wider, thicker, and softer, with Nappa leather and 11-layer seat structure as standard. The front seats also come standard with ventilation, heating, and massage, while for rear occupants, the long-awaited features, namely tray tables and Mag+ magnetic mounts, are available for greater flexibility and convenience.

“Both models are powered by NIO’s all-new smart system, NT.Cedar S, which integrates NIO’s proprietary smart driving chip NX9031, the full-domain vehicle operating system SkyOS, and the iterative intelligent chassis. With that, the three most important elements for smart EVs have been redefined, pushing the boundaries for both safety and user experience.

“Smart driving gets smarter, safer, and more intuitive. The upgraded Cedar S Aquila Super Sensing System now features a high-precision 1,550 nm LiDAR sensor and high-performance 4D imaging radars, delivering all-weather, full-coverage perception on every journey. Powered by the NIO WorldModel (NWM), the New ES6 and EC6 now support the point-to-point Navigate on Pilot Plus (NOP+) across all roads, industry-leading Parking Lot Routing, and Long-Range Self-Parking.

“Built on the dedicated NOMI Intelligence architecture and enhanced with large language model reasoning, NOMI becomes an even smarter emotion companion and more capable assistant. The new NOMI Mate 3.0 boasts an impressive 340° swing range, bringing more lifelike interactions and playfulness to the cabin, from observing the world outside and playing rock-paper-scissors, to dancing to music and guiding occupants through stretches. It even can respond to users’ gentle taps on its head.

“The intelligent chassis comes with various hardware and software enhancements, taking comfort to new heights. The newly tuned front suspension mount and spring stiffness, optimized Continuous Damping Control (CDC), and upgraded rear subframe hydraulic bushings improve the chassis’ road vibration absorption by 29%. The stabilizer bar further restrains the body sway and pull by 34%. New features like Rear Comfort Mode and Smart U-Turn enhance both comfort and maneuverability.

“With NWM as the foundation, the New ES6 and EC6 offer more comprehensive protection than ever before. The industry’s one-of-a-kind Rear Collision Mitigation (RCM) reduces secondary impact in a rear-end collision through reducing forward jolts by up to 93%, and the Emergency Roadside Pull-Over can step in as a co-driver in critical moments. Surround View Display, the same feature on NIO’s flagship model ET9, helps reduce blind spots and improve image clarity, making driving more reassuring. The Tire Burst Mitigation first used on the ET9 is also available on the new models. Technology-driven safety is becoming the most perceivable premiumness.”

Sounds compelling. My guess is that these upgraded NIO SUVs will sell quite well, and competitors in the space (ahem, Tesla, ahem) are going to really have to step it up in order to maintain sales, let alone increase them. But let’s see how things play out.