Beijing Auto Show rolls out 150 premieres

Auto China 2026 opened in Beijing on April 24 with 1,451 vehicles, 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars, making it the show’s biggest edition yet. (autochinashow.org) Organizers said the exhibition spans 380,000 square meters across the China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi and the Capital International Exhibition Center, with public days running through May 3. (autochinashow.org) The center of attention was not just new cars but charging speed. BYD showed its latest blade battery technology charging a vehicle to near full in nine minutes, including a low-temperature demonstration at minus 30 degrees Celsius. (usnews.com) (chosun.com) CATL arrived with an even faster claim outside the show floor’s car launches: its third-generation Shenxing battery can charge from 10% to 98% in 6 minutes and 27 seconds. (cleantechnica.com) (electrek.co) Chinese brands used the show to press their advantage in software, batteries and model cadence. The Associated Press reported automakers were showcasing intelligent driving systems and ultrafast charging as they pushed into overseas markets. (abcnews.com) The numbers alone show the shift in industry gravity. Official show material described this year’s Beijing event as the largest global A-class auto exhibition by scale. (autochinashow.org) Crowds also clustered around domestic consumer-tech names that now build cars. Reuters photos from the opening day showed Xiaomi founder Lei Jun presenting the Xiaomi YU7 GT at the exhibition in Beijing. (reutersconnect.com) XPeng said before the show it would present progress in robotics, flying cars and a new smart-driving system, a sign that Chinese carmakers are selling a broader technology package, not just vehicles. (channelnewsasia.com) This year’s Beijing show looked less like a traditional motor show than a live contest over batteries, software and export-ready brands. The public days now run through May 3. (autochinashow.org)