Nio’s been busy, hasn’t it? Just when you think the dust has settled on their latest ET9 Horizon Edition, they drop two *new* themes for it. This isn’t exactly a surprise; it’s Nio’s playbook, and they’re sticking to it to keep their flagship sedan in the spotlight. It’s a strategy we’ve seen them employ across their lineup, and frankly, it’s getting a bit predictable, but does it work?
These new ET9 Horizon Edition themes kick off at RMB 818,000 (that’s about $118,700) with the battery included. If you’re keen on their BaaS (battery as a service) plan, the price dips to RMB 710,000. The kicker? These new themes are limited to just 199 units each, mirroring the pricing of the existing Horizon Edition. It seems Nio is betting on exclusivity to move metal, especially for a car that’s facing some tough sales numbers.
Remember, the ET9 officially launched back in December 2024 at Nio Day, with deliveries starting in late March 2025. Its initial price tag was RMB 768,000. Then, in September 2025, we got the first Horizon Edition, boasting a fancy two-tone paint job and other exclusive touches. Last November, more theme colors were added. And let’s not forget the ultra-exclusive, nine-unit run in January to celebrate their one-millionth vehicle production milestone. It’s a constant stream of special editions.
Why all the fuss over special editions? Well, sales figures for the ET9 haven’t exactly set the world on fire. After a decent start with 810 units in its first full month of deliveries (April 2025), sales have been on a bit of a rollercoaster. February saw just 64 deliveries, a slight bump from January’s 59. By the end of February, cumulative deliveries since March 2025 stood at 2,722 units. That’s not the kind of volume you’d expect from a flagship sedan, especially one commanding such a high price.
It’s not just the ET9. Nio’s compact brand, Firefly, is also jumping on the special edition bandwagon, announcing a new model launch imminently. We’ve seen this dance before with Firefly, like their
