Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China)

Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (commonly known as Auto China or the Beijing Motor Show), is a premier international automotive exhibition organised by the China Machinery Industry Federation, China National Machinery Industry Corporation, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), with co-organisers including the Automotive Sub-Council of CCPIT and China National Machinery Industry International Co., Ltd. Since its inception in 1990, Auto China has been held biennially in Beijing. Over nearly four decades of development, it has evolved into one of the world's most influential Class-A motor shows, serving as both a witness to and a key driver of the growth of China's automotive industry.

Historical Development

The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition made its debut on 3 July 1990, covering an exhibition area of less than 20,000 square metres with 400 local and international exhibitors and just 23 foreign display vehicles. The scale and stature of the motor show have grown significantly with each edition. At the 6th edition in 2002, the exhibition space expanded to 70,000 square metres with nearly 1,000 participating exhibitors; global automotive giants such as GM, Volkswagen, and Toyota showcased 180 vehicles, cementing Auto China's status among the world's top-tier motor shows.

The exhibition has undergone several venue upgrades over the years, progressing from its early days at the China International Exhibition Center (Jing'anzhuang Hall) and the National Agricultural Exhibition Center to establishing the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) as its core venue. Over the past two decades, Auto China has established itself as a globally renowned automotive showcase, launchpad, and trade platform carrying immense brand value within the international automotive industry.

The 19th Auto China in 2026

Held from 24 April to 3 May 2026 under the theme "Leading the Era, Intelligence for the Future", the 19th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition adopted a dual-venue format for the first time. The event spanned a total of 17 exhibition halls across both the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) and the Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center, boasting a combined indoor and outdoor area of 380,000 square metres—setting a new size record for Auto China and breaking the record for the world's largest motor show.

Key Figures: This edition brought together over 2,000 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions, showcasing 1,451 display vehicles, which included 181 global debuts and 71 concept cars. Across the 10-day run, the event recorded 1.28 million visitor admissions, with international visitors accounting for 65,000 admissions, alongside coverage by 32,000 media representatives.

Technological Focus: The motor show highlighted the automotive industry's shift from conventional "new car launches" to holistic "systemic innovation". Artificial intelligence took centre stage as the core theme, with breakthrough technologies such as physical AI systems, Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving, and 800V ultra-fast charging in the spotlight. Huawei Qiankun ADS 5.0 debuted as the first highway-capable Level 3 intelligent driving system ready for mass production, BYD showcased its megawatt ultra-fast charging technology, and CATL presented its latest solid-state and sodium-ion battery concept products.

Exhibitor Highlights: BYD took over the entire Hall E3 to showcase its second-generation Blade Battery alongside its latest model line-up; Chery commanded Hall E1, presenting marques including Zongheng and iCAR; BAIC Group took up Hall E4 as the home-ground "host", while Mercedes-Benz showcased a comprehensive line-up of nearly 40 models. The Huawei ecosystem exhibited as a dedicated brand cluster for the first time, sharing the stage with key strategic partners including Avatr, Qijing, and Yijing.

Industry Significance

The evolution of Auto China has closely tracked the transformation of China's automotive industry as annual vehicle production rose from 2 million to 30 million units. With China establishing itself as the world's largest new energy vehicle (NEV) market and the epicentre of automotive transformation, Auto China has transcended being a conventional exhibition platform to become a strategic gateway for the global automotive supply chain to track China's technology roadmap, forge local collaborations, and gauge upcoming market trends.