Beijing show spans 380,000 square metres

Auto China 2026 opened in Beijing on April 24 as the world’s largest auto show, spreading across 380,000 square meters and two exhibition centers. (beijingautoshow.com) The show runs through May 3 at the China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi and the Capital International Exhibition Center, a first-time dual-venue format for the event. (beijingautoshow.com) Organizers said 1,451 vehicles are on display, including 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars. They also said more than 2,000 companies from 21 countries and regions are exhibiting. (beijingautoshow.com) (chinadaily.com.cn) The floor count explains the headline, but the show’s center of gravity has shifted from sheet metal to software. China Daily reported that Auto China 2026 is increasingly about centralized computing, large language models and intelligent driving systems. (chinadaily.com.cn) Chinese brands accounted for more than 60% of the show’s global premieres, according to China Daily. Large halls were devoted to domestic groups including BYD, Chery and Geely, which used the event to present technology stacks as much as finished vehicles. (chinadaily.com.cn) Automotive News reported that global brands arrived with Chinese partners’ software-defined vehicle technology, while Chinese automakers pushed premium and sporty models aimed at taking share from foreign rivals. Its photo roundup highlighted 17 vehicles spanning battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and gasoline models. (autonews.com) Volkswagen used a Beijing media night on April 21 to preview four world premieres and said it plans to launch more than 20 new-energy vehicles in China this year. The group framed the lineup as part of its “In China, for China” strategy. (volkswagen-group.com) The official exhibitor list underscored how broad the field has become: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volvo all appeared alongside Chinese groups and suppliers. That mix makes Beijing less a domestic showcase than a live readout of where the global car business is heading. (beijingautoshow.com) For now, the most important number is not only 380,000 square meters. It is the share of premieres coming from Chinese brands, in a show that opened with cars but is being defined by code, batteries and cockpit systems. (chinadaily.com.cn)