On April 23, the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition officially opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. NIO, under the theme “Innovate to New Horizons,” presented three of its brands—NIO, ONVO, and firefly—featuring 11 models and 12 self-developed technologies. Nearly 350 media representatives from around the world attended the press conference for NIO and ONVO.

At the event, NIO Founder, Chairman, and CEO Li Bin shared that this was the first time the company’s three brands participated together in an auto show. He also highlighted that 2025 will be a year of significant product and technological advancements for NIO. Nine new cars will be launched across the three brands this year, with major new models coming every quarter. The vehicles and technologies on display at the booth showcased NIO’s decade of technological progress, with the flagship smart electric vehicle, ET9, standing as a prime example of China's breakthrough in smart automotive technology and NIO’s leadership in innovation.

Li Bin pointed out that intelligent driving chips, full-domain operating systems, and smart chassis have become the three core technologies of smart vehicles. These technologies set the boundaries for a car's smart features and safety. With these innovations maturing, NIO is entering a new product cycle.

The ET9 took center stage at NIO’s booth, where visitors had the chance to experience its "Tianxing" full-active suspension system and steer-by-wire technology. A dynamic "Tianxing Dance" performance was also showcased. Since its delivery began on March 29, ET9 has gained recognition from many industry leaders, including Midea’s Chairman and CEO Fang Hongbo, CATL’s Chairman Zeng Yuqun, and JD.com’s Founder Liu Qiangdong.

In addition to the ET9, NIO launched a new short video series, “ET9 Lounge,” where innovators from various industries are invited to share their stories inside the car. The first episode, featuring renowned financial author and ET9 user Wu Xiaobo, was released on April 23.

For new products, NIO’s new ET5, ET5T, ES6, and EC6 will be released in the second quarter, with the third-generation ES8 scheduled for launch by the end of the year. ONVO’s L90 made its debut at the auto show, with deliveries expected in the third quarter. The third model, L80, will be launched later this year. The firefly vehicle was officially launched on April 19 and will begin deliveries on April 29. This marks its first appearance at an international auto show, where it was showcased alongside NIO brand vehicles. Li Bin announced that firefly will expand to 16 countries across five continents this year, bringing the experience of high-end smart small cars to global users. NIO plans to enter 25 countries and regions by 2025.

At the auto show, NIO set up a dedicated technology area to showcase 12 key self-developed technologies, including the smart driving chip “Shenji NX9031,” the Tianxing suspension system, steer-by-wire, and the 900V high-performance electric drive system. Visitors could also witness the full battery swapping process at NIO’s fourth-generation swap station and view the latest 750kW liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging piles.

During the press conference, Li Bin presented the company’s self-developed 5nm smart driving chip “Shenji NX9031,” which has been applied in the ET9. It is the world’s first production-grade 5nm chip for smart driving. Li Bin explained that one Shenji chip’s computing power is equivalent to four Orin X chips, and two chips match eight, achieving a computing power level on par with Thor-X and earlier than Thor-U. This chip will also be used in the new ET5, ET5T, ES6, and EC6, further upgrading NIO’s intelligent driving capabilities.

To enhance the visitor experience, NIO brought its NIO House concept to the show, featuring NIO Café, NIO Radio, and a user area. Over 260 user volunteers from across China were also present, helping more visitors learn about NIO's brand and products.

NIO Life, NIO's lifestyle brand, also unveiled a new series made from sustainable materials under the BLUE SKY LAB Upcycling Project. The exhibit highlighted NIO Life's commitment to eco-friendly fabrics and recycled materials, alongside other applications. This year marked the first time NIO Life, firefly Life, and ONVO Life appeared together, showcasing NIO's approach to sustainable living, family-oriented environments, and personalized expression.

Additionally, NIO's knowledge-sharing platform, seeds, hosted live-streamed sessions titled “Dialogues with the Future,” inviting technical experts and ET9 users to discuss technological advancements and provide in-depth insights into core technologies.

The Shanghai Auto Show runs from April 23 to May 2. Visitors are welcome to explore the NIO and firefly booths (7.1 Hall, 7A16) and the ONVO booth (6.2 Hall, 6B03) to discover the future of intelligent mobility.