Auto China’s massive footprint

Auto China opens in Beijing on April 24 with a claimed 380,000 square meters of display space, a footprint organizers say makes it the world’s largest motor show. (beijingautoshow.com) The 10-day show will run across the China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi and the Capital International Exhibition and Convention Center, with the two venues linked for joint operations. Organizers say 1,451 vehicles will be displayed, including 181 world premieres. (beijingautoshow.com) That scale reflects where the industry’s center of gravity has moved. China was the world’s largest auto market again in 2025, with 31.44 million vehicle sales, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. (caam.org.cn) Battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models are driving much of that growth. The China Passenger Car Association said new-energy passenger vehicles accounted for 47.2% of retail sales in 2025, up 12 percentage points from 2024. (cpcaauto.com) The Beijing show’s model list points to that competition. BYD plans to unveil a new-generation Atto 3, sold in China as the Yuan Plus, with its latest “flash charging” system and a wheelbase that Chinese outlet CarNewsChina reported is 50 millimeters longer. (carnewschina.com) BYD’s charging push has become a central selling point this spring. The company said in March it had launched its Super e-Platform, with peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts and a claimed 400 kilometers of range added in five minutes under China’s test cycle. (byd.com) Lynk & Co is using the same show to move in a different direction. The Geely-backed brand said its first GT concept car will make its global debut in Beijing, with teaser images showing a two-door coupe meant to sharpen the brand’s sporty image. (press.lynkco.com) Foreign carmakers are still showing up in force, but the balance on the floor has changed. Auto China’s exhibitor list includes global groups from Volkswagen to Toyota, alongside Chinese brands that now dominate domestic electric-vehicle sales and are expanding exports. (beijingautoshow.com) Auto China has been held since 1990, and the 2026 edition returns to Beijing after the last Beijing show in 2024. This year’s footprint gives automakers a bigger stage, but the main contest is the same one running across China’s market: faster charging, lower prices and more models launched in less time. (autoshow.org.cn)