The Beijing Auto Show 2026 has officially kicked off, and it has already shattered all previous records. Dubbed the largest in its history, this year’s event is a true spectacle of automotive innovation, running from April 24th under the powerful theme: “Lead the Era, Drive the Future.”
Held at a staggering 380,000 square meters with dual-venue coordination for the first time, the show features over 1,000 top global companies, 219 press conferences, an incredible 1,451 display vehicles, and 181 world or China premieres. It’s clear that the Beijing Auto Show 2026 is not just an exhibition—it’s a declaration of a new global order in the auto industry.
Domestic Brands Take the Lead: The “9-Series” Flagship Battle
Chinese domestic automakers have seized absolute center stage at the Beijing Auto Show 2026, commanding over 66% of the new energy vehicle (NEV) market. And nowhere is this dominance more visible than in the intense competition among “9-series” flagship models. The show floor has become a battleground for ultra-luxury, technology-packed giants.
- Li Auto L9 Livis debuts with an 800V full active suspension, a complete steer-by-wire chassis, and a massive 2560 TOPS of intelligent driving computing power.
- NIO ES9 features the Tianxing full active suspension, rear-wheel steering, and dual Shenji NX9031 chips delivering over 2000 TOPS.
- AITO M9 (New) receives comprehensive upgrades in design, size, and powertrain, becoming the first HarmonyOS-powered model to feature a full active suspension.
- Leapmotor D19 shocks the market by pricing its flagship SUV at just 219,800 RMB (approx. $30,000), with a 200% surge in store traffic within 72 hours of launch.
- Great Wall Motors also joins the fray with the Wey V9X, built on the new Guiyuan S platform.
BYD, Geely, Changan: A Galaxy of Innovations
The Beijing Auto Show 2026 is also defined by the sheer scale and depth of China’s largest auto groups.
BYD occupies an entire hall, showcasing its full brand lineup—Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang. Highlights include the BYD Tang EV, the brand’s first D-segment flagship SUV, which globally debuts a flash charging technology promising “5 minutes to charge, 9 minutes to full.” Fangchengbao’s all-new FORMULA series makes its global premiere, while the Yangwang U9 Xtreme and U8L four-seat version add even more drama.
Geely takes over half a hall, presenting the latest achievements from Zeekr, Lynk & Co., Galaxy, and China Star brands under its 全域 AI 2.0 and Omni-Safety 2.0 technology systems. On opening day, Geely unveiled China’s first natively developed robotaxi prototype, built on its L4-level AI digital architecture—a key step in embodied AI mobility.
Changan Auto brings its entire family: Changan, Avatr, Shenlan, Qiyuan, and Kaicheng. The Avatr VISION XPECTRA concept makes its Asian debut, the Shenlan L06 launches, the Qiyuan Q05 laser edition goes on sale, and the Kaicheng driverless logistics vehicle has its world premiere. Changan also unveils “Haina Baichuan Plan 2.0” alongside two new global HEV models.
The Huawei Ecosystem Takes Over
At the Beijing Auto Show 2026, the so-called “Huawei Circle” has become an attraction in itself. Huawei’s five automotive brands—AITO, Zhijie, Shangjie, Yijing, and Huawei Qiankun Qijie—each have dedicated booths, with a separate stand for HarmonyOS Mobility. New models like the Shangjie Z7/Z7T, AITO M6, and Zhijie V9 make official debuts, while the first models from Huawei’s partnerships with Dongfeng (Yijing X9) and GAC (Qijie GT7) also break cover.
New Forces and Surprise Entrants
Xiaomi, led by founder Lei Jun, draws massive crowds once again. The Xiaomi Vision GT concept supercar is shown for the first time at a major Chinese auto show, turning heads with its futuristic design.
NIO achieves a historic moment: for the first time at an international A-level show, all three brands—NIO, ONVO, and Firefly—share the same stage.
XPeng presents the full color lineup of the GX, alongside a hidden “high-custom” limited edition.
And then there’s Dreame Technology, best known for smart home appliances, making its independent exhibition debut. Having announced its entry into auto manufacturing just last August, Dreame now shows three planned SUV models, with whispers that a limited-edition coupe priced above one million RMB will enter production in 2027.
Joint Venture Brands Fight Back with Smart EVs
After years of playing catch-up, joint venture brands are launching a determined counter-offensive at the Beijing Auto Show 2026 with an “In China, For China” strategy.
- Volkswagen Group unveiled the ID. ERA 9X, its first large 6-seat extended-range SUV, alongside the Tiguan ePro, Passat ePro, and the new ID.AURA T6.
- BMW showcased the long-wheelbase New Generation iX3, co-developing its navigation system with Momenta specifically for China’s complex roads, featuring a 108mm longer wheelbase.
- Mercedes-Benz brought nearly 40 vehicles, including the global debut of the all-electric EQC SUV, the China premiere of the new S-Class, and the market launch of the electric CLA 260 L.
- SAIC-GM displayed its Buick Zhijing E7 and Cadillac Kaiweide, while Nissan, Toyota, and Honda all showcased their latest NEV lineups, signaling a clear acceleration toward electrification.
- Peugeot and Citroën, returning to Beijing, also drew significant attention with brand renewal strategies and futuristic concept cars.
The Rise of “Tech Co-creation”: Suppliers Share the Spotlight
One of the most unique trends at the Beijing Auto Show 2026 is the emergence of major suppliers as stars. No longer hidden in separate halls, tech giants like Huawei Qiankun and battery leaders like CATL now have exhibition spaces right next to major automakers.
This “whole-zero co-exhibition” highlights a major shift in the industry: the auto supply chain is now a relationship of deep, collaborative technology co-creation. Visitors can see Momenta, Horizon Robotics, and Black Sesame Technologies showcasing their latest AI chips and autonomous driving platforms alongside the vehicles they power.
Major battery suppliers—CATL, CALB, Eve Energy, Rept Battero, and Sunwoda—are all present in the main halls, displaying cutting-edge technologies like ultra-fast charging batteries, sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and “AI + battery” solutions. Even BYD and Geely have set up dedicated technology booths for their advanced driving and charging systems.
Conclusion: A New Center of Gravity
From the fierce “9-series” flagship wars to Huawei’s ecosystem dominance, from BYD’s charging breakthroughs to the determined counter-attack of joint ventures, and from the rise of suppliers as co-creators to surprise newcomers like Dreame, the Beijing Auto Show 2026 leaves no doubt: China’s auto industry has firmly seized the initiative in electrification and intelligence. This is no longer a show about catching up—it is about setting the pace. And it is happening with Beijing as the epicenter.
