Record-breaking Beijing Auto Show highlights accelerated shift to smart EVs

  • Intelligence and electrification technologies emerged as core highlights, with multiple automakers showcasing models integrated with AI.
  • Chinese domestic brands dominate in AI and autonomous driving, while global brands seek deeper local integration.
(Nio's booth at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. Image credit: CnEVPost)

The 2026 Beijing Auto Show officially closed on May 3, with the event's record scale and massive attendance highlighting China's core position in the global auto industry's transformation.

The exhibition's total display area reached a record 380,000 square meters, making it the world's largest auto show by scale.

During the 10-day event, it attracted a total of 1.28 million visitors, including an unprecedented 65,000 overseas attendees, according to data released by the event's organizers on Sunday.

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The show displayed a total of 1,451 vehicles across two venues, a massive lineup that included 181 debut models and 71 concept cars.

Intelligence and electrification technologies became the core highlights of the show, with numerous automakers displaying new models integrated with AI (artificial intelligence) large models.

LiDAR has become standard equipment for mid-to-high-end models, and Level 3 autonomous driving is also being widely applied.

In the electrification sector, next-generation power battery technology achieved significant breakthroughs. Some companies exhibited batteries with an energy density exceeding 400 Wh/kg, enabling vehicle ranges of over 1,500 kilometers.

Technologies such as BYD's 9-minute flash charging and fast charging in extreme cold environments of minus 30 degrees Celsius have made the EV recharging experience comparable to that of gasoline cars, the event's organizers noted.

Chinese domestic brands demonstrated their competitiveness and development resilience in the new energy sector, as these manufacturers gradually break the dominance of foreign brands in the high-end market.

International brands also participated extensively in the exhibition, continuing to increase their R&D layouts in China to deeply integrate into the local industry ecosystem.

Notably, US automaker Tesla continued to be absent from this major auto show.

A total of 219 press conferences were held during the exhibition, attracting over 32,000 domestic and foreign media journalists.

Yangwang U9 Xtreme becomes the most expensive model sold at this year's Beijing Auto Show, with a price tag exceeding 20 million yuan ($2.9 million).
Apr 30, 2026
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