BEIJING (AP) — China’s top automakers are showing off their latest models and technologies in Beijing, from intelligent driving to ultrafast charging, as they compete with global rivals in overseas markets.
Analysts say the biennial auto show in the Chinese capital, which opens to the media on Friday, will show how its auto industry is setting the global pace for cutting-edge technologies in areas such as electric vehicles and batteries, eclipsing many of the foreign brands that dominate the global market.
More than 1,450 vehicles are on display at this year’s show, including 181 global debuts. The show will run till May 3.
Display intelligent driving, fast charging performance
Chinese EV maker XPeng is showing off its latest GX model, a six-seater SUV with third-row seats that can fold completely flat, among other new displays and technologies.
A large crowd gathered for a presentation by its founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, who described the vehicle’s more high-tech aspects.
“When you are driving on the highway, you fall asleep, or if you feel unwell and can no longer control the vehicle, the system can detect the situation, automatically pull over and alert the emergency services,” he said. “Many people who have tried it say it’s wonderful.”
Chinese EV maker BYD showcased its new-generation fast-charging “Blade” EV battery, first unveiled last month, which can fully charge in nine minutes at the auto show, as well as charging in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. Also showcased by Yijing, the EV joint venture between Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation and technology giant Huawei, was the X9, their flagship six-seat SUV.
According to chairman Wang Junjun, the new model will feature some of the latest auto technologies, including the next-generation Quankun intelligent driving system and the new HarmonyOS cockpit and operating system developed by Huawei.
Ahead of the show, Chinese battery giant CATL on Tuesday unveiled a new version of its “Shenxing” battery, which can be charged from 10% to 98% in about six and a half minutes.
China’s ‘aggressive’ progress
The auto show showcases the “aggressiveness of speed and progress” of Chinese automakers, said Tu Le, managing director of consultancy Sino Auto Insights. “It reinforces that the Chinese – whether in EVs, batteries, intelligent driving – are setting the pace for all these important areas,” he said.
“China has been one of the fastest-moving markets to adopt and replicate new vehicle technologies, giving consumers early access to some of the most advanced features,” said Chris Liu, senior analyst at research and advisory group Omdia.
China has become the world’s largest car exporter, benefiting from its ability to gain cost advantages from its large scale as well as significant government subsidies and support that have helped automakers scale quickly and roll out new models and technologies faster than foreign competitors.
But Chinese automakers have faced enormous pressure from a fierce price war in recent months. This year, the government scaled back subsidies, encouraging drivers to switch to EVs and plug-in hybrids in line with domestic demand.
Passenger car sales in China fell 23 percent to about 4 million vehicles in the January-March quarter from a year ago, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. But as Chinese cars entered regions such as Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America, exports rose 63% to nearly two million vehicles.
Omdia projects China’s passenger vehicle exports to grow by 14 percent annually in 2026.
The highly competitive Chinese market has driven vehicle prices down by a fifth over the past two years, according to a report this week from consultancy Alix Partners.
Some new technology is expected to be exported
Some of the new technologies showcased at the auto show may be exported to overseas markets in the short term due to regulatory and safety challenges, Liu said. But they indicate “capabilities that can be refined and adapted for global markets over time.”
While foreign automakers have been losing market share in China in recent years, some are making a comeback, with Volkswagen Group announcing on Tuesday plans to install “agentic” AI in its vehicles for China. It also unveiled new EV models for the Chinese market, including the new UNYX 09 electric sedan co-developed with XPeng.
While foreign car brands may try to “stabilize” their market share in China, “recapturing the previously significant market share is not realistic in my view,” said Andreas Radix, managing director of Beryls by AlixPartners, which specializes in the automotive industry.
Meanwhile, given rising demand and often better profits in foreign markets, Chinese automakers have stopped exporting cars from China to build more factories overseas, including in Hungary and Turkey, to boost overseas supplies and avoid trade frictions.
AlixPartners estimates that Chinese carmakers are likely to triple their overseas production to about 3.4 million units by 2030, up from 1.2 million last year.
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Chan reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press video producer Wen Zhang in Beijing contributed to this report.
