NIO ES9 Debuts New World Model Version, Rolling Out to All Smart System Models Starting June

NIO’s flagship executive SUV, the ES9, will debut with the latest version of NIO World Model. Built upon a three-tier training framework—“World Model + Supervised Fine-Tuning + Closed-Loop Reinforcement Learning”—this new version marks the first implementation in China of an intelligent driver-assistance system that directly outputs steering wheel and acceleration/braking pedal control commands, eliminating the traditional trajectory-generation step to reduce latency and enhance control precision. The updated model also redefines sensor data representation, enabling real-time recognition and understanding of tidal lanes, reversible lanes, and overhead road signs without relying on high-definition maps or enhanced navigation maps—thereby improving lane-selection accuracy and expanding operational scenarios. According to official data, after the full rollout in January 2026 of the intelligent driver-assistance system based on the “World Model + Closed-Loop Reinforcement Learning” architecture to hundreds of thousands of vehicles equipped with NIO’s Banyan, Cedar, and Cedar S intelligent systems, user mileage and usage duration of urban Navigation on Pilot (NOP) increased by 92% and 116% respectively month-over-month over the following three months. This latest iteration of the World Model will be simultaneously deployed in June 2026 to all vehicles running the Banyan, Cedar, and Cedar S systems. NIO stated that whether users purchased a Banyan-equipped vehicle in 2022 or plan to buy a future Cedar or Cedar S model, they will receive nearly identical intelligent driver-assistance capabilities and experiences.