The biggest car show on Earth focused on bigger cars in 2026. And when I say big, I’m talking about an exhibition space almost equivalent to almost 1500 tennis courts – approximately 380,000 square metres – and it needed to be so large as many of the new cars on show were bigger than in years gone by.
There were more than 1450 cars on show across more than a dozen halls, and many of them were larger-than-life electrified SUVs that are positioned as prestigious profitmaking status symbols for the burgeoning upper middle-class customer base.
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China has embraced the large SUV almost as much as the Americans, and as a means of helping customers understand where the vehicle is positioned in the model range, car companies tend to use alphanumeric naming to communicate the car’s ranking.
Some of those showcased included the Nio ES9 with innovative fully active suspension, the Aito M9 embodying Huawei autonomous driving tech, not to mention the Leapmotor D19 and Zeekr 9X, and, breaking from the traditional naming, Xpeng showed its huge new GX six-seater.
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These three-row large SUVs are all “new energy vehicles” with electrified powertrains – most have sizeable battery packs allowing more than 300km of EV driving, and a petrol engine to back things up. Some offer fully electric options, too.
What stood out most from the stands was that two-tone paint and monoblock wheels are clearly on trend, with the Maybach-aping styling making it nearly impossible to pick one SUV from another at a quick glance. They’re all similar in shape and size, too, with most spanning 5.2-metres or more – almost as long as a HiLux.
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Another highlight was the array of colourful cars on show, from deep purples to hot pinks, acidic oranges to lustrous yellows, it was clear that for performance cars and more affordable models, customers are starting to show an interest in more adventurous hues.
Crowds mobbed the Chery Tiggo V transforming SUV, which can be configured as a three-row, five-metre-plus family SUV, or you can turn it into a dual-cab ute by way of a configurable bulkhead system.
It’s a similar idea to the Deepal E07 Multitruck that’s already on sale in Australia, but with a far more upright, boxy design and a plug-in hybrid system that could make it more appealing to a broader range of customers.
There were a number of pick-up trucks on show, including a six-wheeler concept from Jetour, the new-generation T70 ute from LDV (aka Maxus), and hardcore 4×4 brand 212 also had a few examples on its stage. GAC took the covers off its new Yue 7 plug-in hybrid Prado fighter, while Nissan was leaning hard on its partnership with Dongfeng, showing off a new PHEV SUV called Terrano which could fill the gap between X-Trail and Patrol in the Australian market. GWM also unveiled a different PHEV system for its angular Tank 700, which could improve its chances for an Aussie market intro.
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An apparent anti-big-car push was evident too, with Chery sub-brand Fulwin showing off the gorgeously proportioned A9L wagon, while the B-Class-like GAC Aion N60 proved that not everything needs to have aggressive angles to look appealing. EV range is becoming less of a concern for customers in China because their recharging infrastructure is so far ahead of the rest of the world’s, and with battery costs reportedly reduced by nearly half in the past five years, we’re seeing plug-in hybrid and range-extender models with battery packs that are bigger than some fully electric cars, and charging speeds.
But recharging is a focal point for many brands – BYD showcased its Flash Charging system, which is claimed to be able to replenish an EV as quickly as a petrol pump. We’re talking 400km of EV range added in five minutes, or a full charge in nine minutes – or 12 minutes in -30C temperatures (the brand even had two icicle-laden cars in freezer boxes on the stage as proof).
Alongside its charging stand, BYD held court with numerous debuts such as the Sealion 05 and Sealion 08 (distinct from the just-launched Sealion 5 and Sealion 8 in Australia, while the new Atto 3 also got plenty of attention. Luxury sub-brand Denza take the covers – and the roof – off its new 2+2 convertible model called Z, with a sportier version claiming a 0-100km/h time of less than 2.0 seconds.
Meanwhile, Aussie car dealership guru Nick Politis – the man behind Eagers Automotive dealerships and club chairman of the Sydney Roosters NRL team – was assigned a 1 of 30 limited edition YangWang U9 Xtreme, one of the fastest cars ever made. It’s a left-hand-drive supercar, and only one will be allocated per country.
For those less keen on driving, Geely showcased a new robotaxi concept vehicle, Eva Cab, that could pave the way for a driverless experience from as early as next year. Along with an array of 43 sensors, it is going to use low-atmosphere satellites to assist in its precise positioning.
