China’s top automakers are using the Beijing auto show to put their newest vehicle concepts and technology platforms on display as global competition intensifies and sales targets increasingly include overseas markets. The biennial event opened to media on Friday and runs through May 3, with more than 1,450 vehicles on show and 181 global debuts, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The showcase is framed by analysts as a demonstration of how quickly Chinese automakers are developing and deploying cutting-edge features, especially in electric vehicles, batteries and intelligent driving systems—areas where some foreign brands that once dominated are now being challenged. The event is also taking place amid a turbulent backdrop for the industry, including ferocious price competition and policy changes that have affected demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles inside China.
XPeng is among the companies presenting new offerings tied to intelligent driving. At the show, the company is displaying its GX model, a six-seater sport utility vehicle with a third row that can lie completely flat. In a presentation attended by large crowds, XPeng founder and chief executive He Xiaopeng highlighted automated safety assistance, saying that when a driver becomes unable to control the vehicle, the system can detect the situation, pull over automatically and alert emergency services.
BYD, another major electric-vehicle maker, used the Beijing auto show to highlight fast-charging technology tied to its “blade” EV battery. The company showcased a new generation of the battery that, as presented at the event, can reach a near full charge in nine minutes. BYD also demonstrated how the battery charges under low-temperature conditions, including minus 30 degrees Celsius.
Also on display was Yijing, an EV joint venture between Dongfeng Motor and technology giant Huawei, where the company showed its X9 flagship six-seat SUV. The AP report said the X9 includes what Yijing described as a next-generation intelligent driving setup and a HarmonyOS cockpit and operating system developed by Huawei. Separately, the report attributed specific features to the new model to BYD and Huawei technology integration described through a chairman’s remarks.
Battery maker CATL used the show to reinforce that the race is not only about vehicles but also about power systems. The report said CATL unveiled earlier this week a new version of its “Shenxing” battery, which can be charged from 10% to 98% in only about six-and-a-half minutes. That emphasis on charging speed and performance—both at cold temperatures and in short timeframes—was a recurring theme across displays highlighted in the Beijing event coverage.
Beyond the individual product reveals, analysts pointed to the broader pace of innovation in China’s auto industry. Tu Le, managing director of consultancy Sino Auto Insights, said the show highlights the “speed and aggressiveness of advancement” among Chinese automakers and reinforced that Chinese companies are setting the pace in EVs, batteries and intelligent driving. Chris Liu, a senior analyst at research and advisory group Omdia, said China has become one of the fastest-moving markets for deploying and iterating new vehicle technologies, giving consumers early access to advanced features.
That rapid development and iteration is happening as the domestic market faces strain. The AP report said Chinese automakers have faced pressure from price wars over the past months, and that the government has scaled back subsidies intended to encourage drivers to switch to EVs and plug-in hybrids, weighing on demand. It cited figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showing passenger-car sales dropping 23% in the January-to-March quarter from the year earlier level to around 4 million vehicles, while exports rose 63% to almost 2 million vehicles as Chinese-made cars gained ground in regions including Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Even so, analysts cautioned that many of the newest technologies on display may not be exported quickly because of regulatory and safety challenges. Liu said few of the technologies shown at the Beijing event are likely to reach overseas markets in the short term, but he described them as “capabilities that can be refined and adapted for global markets over time.” The report also pointed to foreign automakers responding to losses in China with product plans, including Volkswagen’s announcement of installing “agentic” AI into vehicles for China and unveiling new EV models for the Chinese market, including the UNYX 09 sedan co-developed with XPeng.
At the same time, the industry push for overseas growth is increasingly tied to manufacturing outside China. The AP report said Chinese automakers are shifting from exporting cars made in China to building more factories abroad to increase supply and avert potential trade friction. It cited AlixPartners estimates that Chinese carmakers are likely to almost triple their overseas production by 2030 to 3.4 million vehicles from 1.2 million last year.