While major motor shows in Europe and the United States are being forced to downsize or change their format, those in China continue to expand.

With 1,451 vehicles on display, including 181 world premieres, the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2026 (also known as Auto China 2026) has become the largest auto show in history—and that’s in terms of both exhibition space and the number of vehicles on display.

This fact itself reflects a shift in the center of gravity of the automotive industry, but that's not all. A much larger structural transformation is actually taking place in China today.

Previously, the focus was on low-priced electric vehicle models, but now price is no longer the primary point of competition. At the show, not only were there many high-end EVs and large SUVs from Chinese manufacturers equipped with advanced driver-assistance technologies and AI functions, but these technologies are also rapidly spreading to the lower price range.

Chinese manufacturers' cars offer many technologically impressive features. Lidar sensors, which use lasers for advanced driver assistance, are now even being incorporated into EVs costing less than 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,500). Models featuring “drive-by-wire” technology, which replaces mechanical steering connections and hydraulic brake lines with electrical signals, are appearing prominently. Even Toyota's local models are using Huawei's powertrains and smart cockpit OS.

The simplistic dichotomy of “cheap Chinese cars versus high-end European cars” no longer holds weight. While staying competitive in the low-price market, Chinese manufacturers are also gaining leadership in areas such as AI, driver-assistance systems, in-car chips, smart cockpits, and high-performance EVs.

These 19 particularly noteworthy models from the 2026 Beijing Motor Show best embody this evolution.

XPeng GX

There is a fundamental difference between a car designed for autonomous driving and an existing car that’s had autonomous driving technology added to it. XPeng Motors' GX is the former, a model in which sensors, computing infrastructure, and AI models with Level 4 autonomous driving in mind were designed first, then built into a new SUV bound for the commercial market.

Equipped with up to four proprietary AI chips, it boasts a total computing power of 3,000 tera operations per second—approximately 12 times the 254 TOPS that a single Nvidia Orin is capable of. The latest AI model in the vehicle can recognize spoken commands as well as the images captured by car’s cameras, and it can understanding and adapt to the current driving conditions.

Volkswagen has adopted XPeng’s AI chip and driver-assistance technology in its EVs, meaning XPeng is no longer just an EV manufacturer. It's becoming a platform provider supplying the brains behind autonomous driving to Europe's largest automaker. The price is 399,800 yuan (approximately $58,000).

Another “AI-native” car at the show is the Jiayue 07 from SAIC Motor's Roewe brand. It was designed around the Doubao Da Model 2.0, an LLM developed in collaboration with the cloud division of ByteDance, the company known for TikTok. The fact that multiple Chinese manufacturers are simultaneously demonstrating AI as the starting point of car design is highly significant.

Geely EVA Cab

Geely has debuted a minivan-type EV designed for fully autonomous driving. There’s no steering wheel and no foot pedals. The EVA Cab has no driver's seat and features a layout with four seats arranged face-to-face. It is positioned as China's first robotaxi, designed specifically for autonomous driving.

The system boasts a computing power exceeding 3,000 TOPS, and its lidar scanner is touted as being the world’s most powerful. Geely claims that it employs robust security technology for communication between the vehicle and the cloud. The specialty EV is going into mass production; Geely plans to commercialize it in 2027 through its ride-hailing service, CaoCao Mobility.

Li Auto L9 Livis

Traditional cars had a metal shaft connecting the steering wheel and tires, and a hydraulic piping physically connecting the brake pedal and brake calipers. This structure remained unchanged for over 100 years, but the newest Chinese EVs are starting to employ a system called drive-by-wire, which replaces these mechanical parts with electrical signals.

Li Auto's L9 Livis integrates drive-by-wire (also called steer-by-wire, chassis-by-wire, and electrical steering), four-wheel steering, and electromechanical brakes all without any mechanical or hydraulic connections. According to Li Auto’s claims, this is a “world first.” The response speed of the electronically controlled brakes is significantly faster than that of hydraulic brakes, the company says, and it is positioned as a hardware foundation for future advanced autonomous driving.

This leap was made possible because China's new national standard (effective January 2026) defining the requirements for passenger car braking systems includes standards for electromechanical brakes. While similar regulations are being developed in member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, including Europe and Japan, this represents a "Chinese-style innovation" where regulations and technology move simultaneously. The price is 559,800 yuan (approximately $82,300).

IM LS8

IM Motors, a subsidiary of SAIC Motor, showcased the IM LS8 in Beijing. The range-extended EV not only features four-wheel steering, lidar, and high-performance driver-assistance systems, but also employs drive-by-wire technology. With a starting price of 249,800 yuan (approximately $36,700), it is half the price of the L9 Livis, demonstrating that these newest technologies have arrived in flagship models and affordably priced vehicles almost simultaneously.

These developments could shake the foundation of the business model that European manufacturers have based on prioritizing the adoption of high-value-added technologies in their premium models.

Volkswagen ID. Era 9X

The Volkswagen Group has rolled out its first mass-produced range-extended EV model equipped with a generator engine. This strategic shift in VW's focus on using engines alongside electric vehicles in China, after previously advocating for a complete shift towards EVs, is noteworthy.

The ID. Era 9X is a model developed locally in China with VW's joint venture partner, SAIC Motor, and adopts VW's new vehicle electronic architecture for the Chinese market. It also features an AI assistant that can be operated by voice and gestures. Its maximum range as an EV is over 248 miles, and it can travel more than 990 miles when combined with engine-powered electricity generation.

In China, there are regional disparities in charging infrastructure, with a significant difference in the number of charging stations between coastal metropolitan areas and inland cities. Given this reality, VW has presented not only EVs but also practical alternatives. Prices start at approximately 310,000 yuan ($45,500).

Freelander 8

The joint venture between Chery Automobile and Jaguar Land Rover has launched a new energy vehicle brand called Freelander. This is a reimagining of the Freelander name previously used by Land Rover, now as a new independent brand. The concept model displayed at the motor show is called Concept 97, and the production model will be called Freelander 8.

This range-extended EV combines Chery Auto's electrification technology with Huawei's systems and batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology. It is scheduled to launch in China in the second half of 2026 as a large, three-row SUV, with plans for a roll out to global markets, including Europe.

Hyundai Ioniq V

Hyundai debuted its new EV model, the Ioniq V, in Beijing. Hyundai also announced that it will operate Ioniq as an independent brand in China.

What's noteworthy isn't just the new design language and appearance but also the lineup of technology suppliers the car employs. It uses Contemporary Amperex Technology batteries, Momenta driver-assistance systems, and Qualcomm chips. It also incorporates ByteDance and Baidu's LLM.

This is almost the same list of suppliers that VW, Audi, and General Motors' Cadillac use in China. From this, we can see that the technological foundation for foreign companies to compete in China is becoming standardized.

Nissan Terrano PHEV Concept

If the name Terrano evokes a sense of nostalgia, you're likely from the generation that experienced Japan's off-road boom of the 1990s. This iconic name has now been revived as a concept model for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle destined for the Chinese market.

Nissan Motor's CEO, Ivan Espinosa, took the stage at the Beijing announcement and confirmed a mass-production model will arrive within a year and that it will be exported to the global market. Among major Japanese manufacturers, Nissan was the only one to unveil a new model for the first time in the world at the Beijing Motor Show, demonstrating its focus on the Chinese market.

Toyota bZ7

Toyota Motor Corporation has developed a new EV specifically for China, a sedan type that is larger than the Tesla Model S. The price starts at 169,800 yuan (approximately $25,000), with a limited-time offer starting at 147,800 yuan (approximately $21,700). The model was unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show, and it reportedly received 3,100 orders within an hour of its launch in March.

However, the real shock isn't the low price. It features a Huawei powertrain and smart cockpit OS, Momenta driver-assistance systems, CALB batteries, and Xiaomi systems for smart home appliance integration. In other words, much of the core technology comes from Chinese manufacturers. This EV, touted as “the most intelligent Toyota car globally,” isn't simply Toyota bringing its technology to China but rather a model that deeply incorporates China's electrification and intelligence supply chain.

Denza Z Convertible

The Denza Z Convertible, launched by BYD's Denza division, is an electric hypercar supervised by Wolfgang Egger, who previously served as head of design at Audi. Equipped with three motors, it boasts an output of over 1,000 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 2 seconds. It is an open-top version of the model first unveiled in 2025.

This EV is scheduled to make its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a motorsports event to be held in July 2026. It is unusual for a brand under the BYD umbrella to run a hypercar at a venue where Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren showcase the performance of their new models to the world. It is highly significant that Chinese EVs are moving beyond the context of being “cheap” and “practical” and standing on the same stage as European supercars at the mecca of motorsports.

Lynk & Co. GT Concept “Time to Shine”

Lynk & Co, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile, unveiled a concept model of an electric hyper GT car. This is Lynk & Co's first GT concept, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the brand's founding in 2016. Its development was led by a global design team.

The GT can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2 seconds and has a top speed of 330 km/h, but its true strength isn't limited to straight-line acceleration. Pressing the “+” button on the logo located on the center console activates performance mode, and the car “transforms.”

Specifically, the ground clearance is lowered by about half an inch, the front spoiler is extended, and the overall length is increased by almost four inches. Furthermore, the rear spoiler rises, improving cornering performance and stability at high speeds. Features such as a retractable center console screen are included to allow the driver to devote their full attention to sporty driving.

The interior features an elaborate finish, including hand-applied, high-performance carbon fiber material from Sweden. There are still some unknowns, like what the powertrain of the production model will be and whether the car will ever actually be mass-produced.

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo

Xiaomi, which has been dominating the Chinese market with its electric vehicles, unveiled the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo in China for the first time. The concept model of an electric hypercar was designed for the popular car racing video game series Gran Turismo.

It boasts an output of over 1,900 horsepower and employs a 900-volt high-voltage platform. Its aerodynamic design claims a very low drag coefficient of 0.29. However, it will not be mass-produced; it is a model intended for “driving” on the circuits within the game Gran Turismo 7.

Vision Gran Turismo is a project in which car manufacturers and game developer Polyphony Digital jointly develop concept cars that will appear in the game. European supercar brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini have participated. The fact that Xiaomi, famous for its smartphones, has joined the project symbolizes the changing power dynamics in the Chinese automotive industry and the shifting position of tech companies.

Leapmotor A10

An EV equipped with an advanced lidar-powered driver-assistance system has appeared for under $13,000. The A10 from Leapmotor, a company in which Stellantis has invested, is characterized by its “disruptive price,” with the lidar-equipped model costing 86,800 yuan (approximately $12,800) and the non-lidar model costing 65,800 yuan (approximately $9,675).

The maximum driving range is 312 miles, and fast charging takes 16 minutes to go from 30 to 80 percent. It will be introduced to the European market in the latter half of this year under the name Leapmotor B03X through a joint venture with Stellantis.

Lidar has previously been considered a differentiating feature mainly for higher-end models, and advanced driver-assistance technology was an added value exclusive to premium models. This car is noteworthy because it breaks that premise.

Beijing Automotive Arcfox S3

Beijing Automotive Group's brand Arcfox has unveiled the Arcfox S3, a sedan-type electric vehicle. Despite its midsize dimensions, the price is remarkably low, starting at 64,800 yuan (approximately $9,525) for a lease-type model with a replaceable battery, and 92,800 yuan (approximately $13,645) for an EV with a battery included. Moreover, it is equipped with advanced driver-assistance functions using lidar.

The maximum driving range is 410 miles, and the battery-swapping type allows for battery replacement in 99 seconds. A model equipped with a generator engine is also reportedly in the works. Such a low price for a small sedan EV equipped with lidar is quite striking.

Chery QQ3

The QQ3, unveiled by Chery Automobile, is a small electric vehicle that can be seen as an homage to the QQ, a low-priced compact car that the company launched in 2003 and which became a huge hit. Its rounded exterior and large, round headlights are reminiscent of the original model. It has a maximum driving range of 260 miles. The price starts from 58,900 yuan (approximately $8,660).

The original QQ was released at a reduced price of 29,800 yuan (approximately $3,000 at the exchange rate at the time) and became a national car, popular among many Chinese people as their “first personal car.” Perhaps due to this nostalgia and its low price, more than 27,000 orders were placed within three hours of reservations opening. This “revival” as an EV, 12 years after the end of production of the original, holds great significance in Chinese society.

Aridge Land Aircraft Carrier

One of the vehicles that drew a crowd at the Beijing event was the Land Aircraft Carrier, a six-wheeled range-extended EV made by Aridge, a subsidiary of XPeng Motors. Remarkably, a foldable, two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is stored in the rear of the vehicle. In other words, this car functions as a mother ship capable of transporting and charging a compact flying car.

We’ve seen this particular concept vehicle before, but more detail was revealed at the Beijing Auto Show. The price is expected to be under 2 million yuan ($300,000), and mass production is scheduled to begin within the year. More than 7,000 reservations have already been made. However, certification for the eVTOL portion has not yet been obtained, and safety certification from aviation authorities is the biggest hurdle to mass production. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy to see a path to the practical application of flying cars in a realistic form.

Chery iCar Robox

iCAR (known as iCAUR overseas), a new vehicle brand under Chery Automobile, has unveiled a concept electric SUV. The company says the car's name, Robox, has been derived from merging the words “robot” and “box.” The design, a cross between a minivan and an SUV, is distinctive.

This concept model showcases the direction of SUV evolution, though the interior details have yet to be revealed. Designed based on iCAR's next-generation platform, it will support both lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. iCAR calls this vehicle an “embodied intelligence,” explaining that it's an architecture that operates the vehicle itself as an AI agent. While the price and production plans haven’t been announced, this design may be adopted for future mass-produced models.

BYD Ocean-V

BYD showed off a concept model of an electric minivan in Beijing, which it calls the “magic cube for mobile living.” The BYD Ocean-V is a vehicle with high ground clearance and large fenders like an SUV. Its distinctive feature is its pair of vertical LED headlights.

This vehicle reimagines the car not merely as a means of transportation but as a lifestyle space, characterized by its ability to switch the interior structure to various modes other than driving. For example, in cinema mode, the steering wheel retracts and a large screen appears, creating a movie theater atmosphere. In camping mode, all the seats fold flat for overnight stays in the vehicle. The layout can also be changed so that family members can sit facing each other. The ability to remove the lights and speakers and carry them around makes the car an extra convenient choice for outdoor activities.

SAIC-GM Buick Electra Concept

SAIC-GM, a joint venture between SAIC Motor and GM, has presented an autonomous vehicle concept model for the Chinese market. Its official name is Zhijing Mobile Space Intelligent Body. It was unveiled under the Electra name, GM's sub-brand for Buick that makes new-energy vehicles for the Chinese market.

Featuring a streamlined design with illuminated panels on the exterior, the vehicle's design is clearly geared toward fully autonomous driving. Inside there is a foldable, crystal-like panel that can transform into a table or partition depending on the situation. In fact, the design treatment of the whole car is inspired by traditional Chinese fans. GM's release of this advanced concept model from its Buick sub-brand symbolizes the type of global thinking that’s on display across the automotive industry.

This story was originally published by WIRED Japan, and has been translated from Japanese.