The Beijing Auto Show (Auto China 2026) opened on Friday and runs until May 3, spanning two venues covering 380,000 square meters. More than 1,450 vehicles are on display, including 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars.
The Land Rover Freelander has returned as a standalone brand under a joint venture between JLR and Chery, according to multiple reports. The first model, the Freelander 8, is a large seven-seat SUV measuring 5.1 meters long, slightly bigger than the Land Rover Defender 110. It will be powered by electrified Chery drivetrains with a range extender setup. Freelander plans to launch a new car every six months over the next three years, totaling six models by the end of the decade.
The Zeekr 8X, a large plug-in hybrid SUV, features a side collision prevention system that lifts the vehicle up to 80mm before impact, according to reports. It also has a parking feature where the car drives itself out of a tight space when the owner waves at it. The Denza Z is a four-seat electric supercar GT with over 1000bhp and a 0-62mph time of less than two seconds.
XPeng showcased its GX model, a six-seater SUV with third-row seats that can lie completely flat. According to XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng, the GX can detect if the driver falls asleep or feels unwell, pull over automatically, and alert emergency services. BYD showcased its new generation of fast-charging 'blade' EV battery that can achieve near full charge in nine minutes, while CATL unveiled a new version of its 'Shenxing' battery that can be charged from 10% to 98% in about six-and-a-half minutes.
BYD executive vice president Stella Li said BYD can survive and be successful without the US market. She also said the company is suffering from insufficient capacity, with demand much higher than supply. Li noted that consumers feel daily savings when oil prices increase, and EVs help them save money every day. She described BYD as not just a car company, but one that produces one-third of global smartphone components and is a leading player in battery storage, solar panels, buses, and trucks.
Chinese car market share in parts of Europe, including Norway, UK, and Italy, is already above 10% for passenger cars, according to multiple reports. Chinese battery electric vehicles account for roughly 14% of the European BEV market. Consultant Georg Mrusek expects Chinese share in Europe to reach 15-25% within four to five years, and said every second European consumer is open to buying a Chinese car as the next car.
SAIC and HIMA, a Huawei subsidiary, launched the Z7 electric sedan, which resembles a Porsche Taycan, at a starting price of 219,800 yuan. The Z7 is available in Max, Max+, and Ultra versions with varying battery and motor configurations. Peugeot showcased Concept 6 and Concept 8 electric concepts designed for the Chinese market and not for Europe. The production versions will be built by Dongfeng in Wuhan.
Consultant Tu Le said the auto show showcases the speed and aggressiveness of advancement among Chinese automakers. Analyst Chris Liu said China has become one of the fastest-moving markets for deploying and iterating new vehicle technologies.