The Nio ET7 was the first Nio vehicle to come equipped with LiDAR.
LiDAR, short for light detection and ranging, measures distance by sending laser pulses and timing their reflections. In the ET7, it forms part of Nio’s Aquila sensing system, helping the vehicle build a detailed three-dimensional picture of its surroundings. That information supports driver-assistance functions alongside cameras, millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic sensors, and positioning hardware.
The ET7 is a large electric executive sedan and became Nio’s flagship model when it entered production in 2022. Its sensor suite includes a roof-mounted high-resolution LiDAR unit with a stated range of up to 500 meters, plus multiple cameras and radars. This combination was intended to provide redundancy: no single sensor type has to handle every road condition alone.
LiDAR is sometimes confused with radar because both estimate distance, but they use different signals. LiDAR uses laser light and can produce highly detailed spatial data; radar uses radio waves and is generally more tolerant of rain, fog, and darkness. The ET7 has both technologies, but LiDAR is the distinctive first for Nio identified by the question.