Beijing Auto Show spotlights EV surge

Auto China 2026 opened in Beijing with Chinese electric-vehicle makers, not foreign brands, setting the pace on scale, software and charging speed. (autobeijing.org.cn) (apnews.com) Organizers said the show runs from April 24 to May 3 across two venues in Beijing. They listed 1,451 vehicles, 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars spread over 380,000 square meters. (autobeijing.org.cn) (euronews.com) Chinese brands filled the halls with battery-electric cars, plug-in hybrids, range-extended models and larger sport utility vehicles aimed at family buyers. AP reported that automakers used the show to flaunt intelligent driving systems and ultrafast charging as overseas competition heats up. (apnews.com) The charging race sat at the center of the show. BYD highlighted its Flash Charge system and second-generation Blade battery, which the company said can add 400 kilometers of range in five minutes under peak conditions. (byd.com) (euronews.com) CATL arrived with an even more aggressive number from its Tech Day before the show. Its third-generation Shenxing lithium iron phosphate battery was presented as charging from 10% to 80% in 3 minutes 44 seconds, and to 98% in 6 minutes 27 seconds. (carnewschina.com) Those claims matter because China’s car market has become a contest over time as much as price. A battery that refills in minutes attacks one of the biggest reasons drivers still hesitate to switch from gasoline. (byd.com) (carnewschina.com) The show also looked like a sales pitch to Europe. Euronews reported that Chinese brands used Beijing to present premium sub-brands, software features and faster product cycles as they chase buyers beyond China. (euronews.com) BYD brought its Dynasty, Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao marques. Geely grouped Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Geely Galaxy and China Star, while Xiaomi showed the SU7, YU7 and SU7 Ultra, underscoring how consumer-tech companies now sit beside traditional carmakers in China’s market. (euronews.com) Foreign brands were still present, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Toyota, Volvo and Ford. But the headline from Beijing was that China’s domestic manufacturers now use their home show to launch technology first and argue about who can commercialize it fastest. (euronews.com) (apnews.com) The halls in Beijing were packed with new cars, but the sharper message was about infrastructure, batteries and exports. China’s carmakers are no longer just showing vehicles; they are showing how fast they think the rest of the market will have to move. (apnews.com) (euronews.com)