Beijing Motor Show Auto China 2026 summary: the world's largest trade fair – a showcase for Chinese carmakers
- The Beijing Motor Show 2026 has become the world's largest auto show.
- The 2026 Beijing Auto Show is primarily a showcase for Chinese automakers, who exhibit their latest models and technologies. Foreign carmakers, in decline for several years, are relegated to a small portion of the show, even though the Volkswagen Group makes a special effort to promote all its new models, many of which are developed in partnership with Chinese carmakers. Foreign automakers now face a fight for their survival.
- The 2026 Beijing Auto Show features many new vehicles, most of which are electric or PHEVs , with a few REEVs (range-extended hybrids). There are virtually no new models with internal combustion engines, as this type of powertrain is gradually being abandoned by Chinese consumers and, more importantly, by the Chinese government, which prefers to encourage the Chinese population to buy BEVs, PHEVs, F-HEVs, and REEVs. The BEV, PHEV, F-HEV, and REEV market currently accounts for 50% of total sales, compared to 48% in 2025.
- The Beijing Motor Show 2026 showcases many new sedans and many new SUVs, as well as several new minivans, but it seems that SUVs are the most favored, thus responding to the Chinese market where SUVs held 59% of the total passenger car market in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 54% in 2025.