Nio delivers on ES7 electric SUV with two tonne tow rating

Chinese electric automaker Nio has reportedly begun delivering its new ES7 SUV to customers in China only two months after it was first unveiled.

Nio unveiled the ES7 SUV in June, a six- or seven-seater, dual-motor EV with maximum power of 480kW and a maximum torque of 850Nm, helping to provide acceleration from 0-100km/h in just under 4 seconds.

Available in three battery options, drivers can choose from a 75kWh Standard Range battery, a 100kWh Long Range battery and a 150kWh Ultra Long Range battery that promises more than 850km range.

Priced starting from RMB 468,000 ($A98,500) which includes the battery, but which will be reduced by at least RMB 70,000 ($A15,000) if customers choose Nio’s Battery as a System (BaaS) battery subscription model.

Notably, it is one of the first electric vehicles in China to be rated for towing. Nio says it is certified to pull 2 tonnes, and pictures it with a caravan. The car also has vehicle-to-load capabilities to allow devices to be charged from its big underfloor battery.

And, as promised, first deliveries of the ES7 began arriving in Chinese cities on Sunday after the completion of pre-delivery checks and preparations.

Nio highlighted deliveries in its mobile app, according to CnEVPost, with the first vehicles arriving in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Hefei, Nanjing, Suzhou, Ningbo, Wuhan, and Xiamen – though Nio did not disclose just how many models were delivered.

Nio also published a handful of photos showcasing delivery of the ES7 SUV.

The base model ES7 SUV comes with a 75kWh battery pack, and those who purchase with Nio’s BaaS subscription model will pay only RMB 398,000 ($A84,000) with a monthly battery rental fee of RMB 980 ($A200) – though this allows for unlimited battery swapping and potential battery upgrades.

A longer range, 100kWh ES7 is a little pricier at RMB 526,000 ($A111,000), or RMB 420,000 ($A88,500) in BaaS mode, with a monthly battery rental cost of RMB 1,680 ($A350).

All costs are before local subsidies, and given that all Nio EVs are able to use battery swap stations to complement charging, the Nio ES7 SUV is still eligible for subsidies, despite being priced above the nominal RMB300,000 threshold which excludes battery swap-capable vehicles.