China's largest motor show opened in Beijing on Thursday with the biggest names showing off their latest electric vehicles (EVs), underlining how the world's biggest car market is already in an all-electric state of mind, and isn't looking back.
Car makers are set to unveil 117 new models vs 93 at last year's show in Shanghai, while overall 278 new energy vehicles (NEVs) will go on display, seven more than last year, organisers of the Beijing Auto Show said.
The show, which runs through early next month, comes as NEV sales hit a milestone in early April, accounting for more than half of cars sold in China, vehicle association data showed.
Sales have been getting a boost from a year-long price war that has sapped profit margins, as manufacturers strive to keep up by announcing newer, cheaper models and promotions.
“At the Beijing Auto Show, there's no doubt there is no interest in petrol vehicles any more. Everyone is looking for the latest technologies in intelligence and electrification,” William Li, founder and CEO of Chinese EV maker Nio, told Reuters. “If you come here, you should have no doubt about EVs any more. It is not the future but is what's happening right now.”
Crowds flooded the booths of Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and industry newcomer Xiaomi, with the smartphone maker stealing the show by holding one of the earliest press events. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said locked-in orders for its sporty SU7 sedan had hit 75,723 and that buyers included owners of cars such as BMWs and Audis.
BYD, the world's largest EV maker, heavily promoted its Yangwang and Denza premium brands as it tried to shed its image as a low-cost car maker.
It also announced the Ocean-M, a sporty rear-wheel-drive hatchback priced at 150,000 to 200,000 yuan (about R395,359 to R527,132) that will be the first vehicle built on a new all-electric platform. The mid-sized car targets China's middle class and sells far below the price of mainstream EVs in North America and Europe.
Foreign car makers, who have been scrambling to reset their China strategies and catch up with the electric shift, touted plans to invest more in local production and research, with Japan's Nissan and Mazda unveiling cars tailored for Chinese drivers.
The US's General Motors left traditional engine vehicles out of its show line-up for the first time, while Germany's Mercedes-Benz dismissed rumours it was giving up on electrification as it showed a handful of new EVs.
Tesla skipped the show again. Its last appearance was in 2021 when an unhappy customer clambered atop a Tesla being displayed to protest its handling of her complaints about brakes she said were malfunctioning.
Some Chinese brands outlined overseas plans, brushing off European and US concerns about industry overcapacity and stressed they had simply become better through innovation.
“With the Chinese automotive industry entering a new era of globalisation and the growing strength of Chinese domestic brands, Chinese vehicles moving onto the world stage has also become a new trend,” said Great Wall Motor president Mu Feng.
Smart driving
Domestically designed advanced driving assistance systems similar to Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) were also marketed by several manufacturers as key selling points.
A number of firms, such as Seres and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), which markets China's third-best-selling EV brand, touted systems supplied by Huawei Technologies, whereas others like BYD and XPeng promoted features developed in-house.
BYD said it would launch two revamped models in its mass market Dynasty and Ocean series in the second quarter, equipped with its self-developed advanced driving assistance system (Adas), while XPeng said it would continuously upgrade software at a “super fast” pace to keep it ahead of rivals.
GAC said it would launch flagship models equipped with Huawei's ADAS from January 2025. It is among seven brands of state-owned car makers that struck partnerships with Huawei to leverage the latter's Adas technology.
“Huawei is leading in advanced assistance driving capabilities,” said GAC general manager Feng Xingya. “We have to make sure the GAC products consumers get are most advanced in those technologies.”
Beijing car show points to all-electric future as local brands dominate
Image: Li Yueran/Anadolu via Getty Images
China's largest motor show opened in Beijing on Thursday with the biggest names showing off their latest electric vehicles (EVs), underlining how the world's biggest car market is already in an all-electric state of mind, and isn't looking back.
Car makers are set to unveil 117 new models vs 93 at last year's show in Shanghai, while overall 278 new energy vehicles (NEVs) will go on display, seven more than last year, organisers of the Beijing Auto Show said.
The show, which runs through early next month, comes as NEV sales hit a milestone in early April, accounting for more than half of cars sold in China, vehicle association data showed.
Sales have been getting a boost from a year-long price war that has sapped profit margins, as manufacturers strive to keep up by announcing newer, cheaper models and promotions.
“At the Beijing Auto Show, there's no doubt there is no interest in petrol vehicles any more. Everyone is looking for the latest technologies in intelligence and electrification,” William Li, founder and CEO of Chinese EV maker Nio, told Reuters. “If you come here, you should have no doubt about EVs any more. It is not the future but is what's happening right now.”
Crowds flooded the booths of Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and industry newcomer Xiaomi, with the smartphone maker stealing the show by holding one of the earliest press events. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said locked-in orders for its sporty SU7 sedan had hit 75,723 and that buyers included owners of cars such as BMWs and Audis.
BYD, the world's largest EV maker, heavily promoted its Yangwang and Denza premium brands as it tried to shed its image as a low-cost car maker.
It also announced the Ocean-M, a sporty rear-wheel-drive hatchback priced at 150,000 to 200,000 yuan (about R395,359 to R527,132) that will be the first vehicle built on a new all-electric platform. The mid-sized car targets China's middle class and sells far below the price of mainstream EVs in North America and Europe.
Foreign car makers, who have been scrambling to reset their China strategies and catch up with the electric shift, touted plans to invest more in local production and research, with Japan's Nissan and Mazda unveiling cars tailored for Chinese drivers.
The US's General Motors left traditional engine vehicles out of its show line-up for the first time, while Germany's Mercedes-Benz dismissed rumours it was giving up on electrification as it showed a handful of new EVs.
Tesla skipped the show again. Its last appearance was in 2021 when an unhappy customer clambered atop a Tesla being displayed to protest its handling of her complaints about brakes she said were malfunctioning.
Some Chinese brands outlined overseas plans, brushing off European and US concerns about industry overcapacity and stressed they had simply become better through innovation.
“With the Chinese automotive industry entering a new era of globalisation and the growing strength of Chinese domestic brands, Chinese vehicles moving onto the world stage has also become a new trend,” said Great Wall Motor president Mu Feng.
Smart driving
Domestically designed advanced driving assistance systems similar to Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) were also marketed by several manufacturers as key selling points.
A number of firms, such as Seres and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), which markets China's third-best-selling EV brand, touted systems supplied by Huawei Technologies, whereas others like BYD and XPeng promoted features developed in-house.
BYD said it would launch two revamped models in its mass market Dynasty and Ocean series in the second quarter, equipped with its self-developed advanced driving assistance system (Adas), while XPeng said it would continuously upgrade software at a “super fast” pace to keep it ahead of rivals.
GAC said it would launch flagship models equipped with Huawei's ADAS from January 2025. It is among seven brands of state-owned car makers that struck partnerships with Huawei to leverage the latter's Adas technology.
“Huawei is leading in advanced assistance driving capabilities,” said GAC general manager Feng Xingya. “We have to make sure the GAC products consumers get are most advanced in those technologies.”
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