CHINA— The Beijing Auto Show 2026 concluded on May 3. The 10-day event, held at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi) and the Capital International Exhibition Center, attracted a total of 1.28 million visitors, setting a new global record for both scale and attendance.
Approximately 65,000 visitors were from overseas and 32,000 media representatives, including 4,125 from international media outlets. During the event, 219 press conferences were held, as well as more than 50 industry forums, summits, and collaboration exploration sessions.
Carnewschina, as quoted by Antara, reported that the two-venue format covers an area of 380,000 square meters with 17 halls. This makes it the largest automotive exhibition ever held in the world. A total of 1,451 vehicles were exhibited, including 181 global debuts and 71 concept cars. Exhibitors included automakers, suppliers, and technology companies from 21 countries and regions, spanning vehicle development, core components, and intelligent systems.
The exhibition highlighted electrification and the development of intelligent vehicles. The battery technologies on display included next-generation systems with energy densities exceeding 400 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and a claimed range of over 1,500 kilometers under test conditions.
Fast-charging technologies, including charging in under 10 minutes and charging at temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius, were also introduced. In terms of intelligent driving, several companies demonstrated centralized computing platforms, multimodal Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration, and L3-level automated driving applications in limited or predetermined environments. LiDAR systems and advanced driver assistance systems were also featured in many mid- to high-end models.
The exhibition featured a variety of electric, hybrid, and performance-focused models. In a significant development, BYD confirmed that its Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric supercar is priced at 20 million yuan (Rp 50.8 billion), marking the highest price tag for a production passenger car under the BYD brand to date.
This event was expected to be one of the largest electric vehicle industry events of the year, with many brands utilizing it for global launches and debuts in the Chinese market.
The Beijing show continues the trend of increasing scale and technology density at major Chinese auto shows. Compared to previous previews, final figures confirm that the Beijing show is the world’s largest auto show by area and number of vehicles on display. Automakers are using the platform to showcase updates in electrification, autonomous driving technology, and performance engineering, with participation from both established and new brands.
According to China EV DataTracker, China’s electric vehicle market showed mixed trends in April 2026, with several major groups recording month-on-month growth, while year-on-year performance varied. BYD was the largest seller, while Geely, Chery (NEV), Changan Automobile, and Leapmotor all recorded year-on-year increases. In contrast, Xpeng experienced an annual decline, while Li Auto and Nio reported relatively stable to moderate growth. (*)
