Beijing Auto Show: China Raises Its Winning Game

InnovationTransportationBeijing Auto Show: China Raises Its Winning GameByNeil Winton,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. U.K.-based Neil Winton covers the European Auto industry.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 12:34pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng speaks at the launch of the Xpeng GX on the opening day of the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 24, 2026. (Photo by Danai Howard / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesChina’s automotive industry has succeeded in the global mass market and is using the Beijing Auto Show to signal its move upmarket. It is also pushing high-technology driver-assistance systems into low-cost vehicles. China’s automakers, confident now in their quality and style and with a lead in batteries and charging, is now the biggest global market for cars and SUVs. But its home market is under intense pressure because of overcapacity, leading to a brutal price war and a struggle for survival.Manufacturers in Europe will be looking hard at the new models being paraded at the show because many of them will soon be arriving on their shores. Notable debuts at the show, which are soon likely to challenge with big numbers in Europe, include the BYD Seal and Sealion, the Leapmotor/Stellantis B-series, Chery including its Omoda and Jaecoo brands, the MG 7 and the Nissan Urban. These include EVs, plug-in hybrids and extended-range EVs. Chery and JLR unveiled the new Freelander 8 for the China market, which might one day go on sale in Europe. This is expected to be an extended-range EV.The show was also notable for the number of so-called “Series 9” vehicles. In China, a "Series 9" vehicle is typically a brand's top-tier, flagship model—often a massive 7-seater SUV or luxury sedan—designed to showcase the pinnacle of technology, comfort, and performance. Destined for the U.S. mar...