International exhibitions

Auto China, new products and trends showcased at the Beijing Motor Show 2024

Chinese brands are increasingly looking to export to Europe, European brands are responding with models that will be stars on their home roads

26 April 2024

5' min read

Beijing is back. Auto China, now christened the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, the great car show in the Chinese capital, which alternates with the one in Shanghai, has been missing since 2019 thanks to Covid. But this year's can be considered one of the richest in novelties, just as it was before the pandemic, but in a different context, which sees Chinese manufacturers no longer interested only in the domestic market, but determined to land in Europe starting in the coming months.

Present at last were many European brands that had snubbed the former salon of European shows, Geneva, but could not do the same on the world's number one market because it would have opened up risky scenarios given the aggressiveness of the Dragon manufacturers. A return to near normality that was really needed.

Three are the most aggressive Chinese manufacturers. With the three giants with the most resources, but also the best international vision, plus a few European managers in the right place at the right time, BYD, Saic with MG and Chery and its green mission, monopolised the attention at the Beijing show with never-before-seen novelties that show what level of competitiveness the Chinese automotive industry has reached.

BYD with the Shark pick-up truck is preparing to destabilise the box truck sector. Saic and MG unveiled the EXE181 Hypercar, an efficiency champion with a cx of 0.181 better than Piech's Vw XL1. And Chery with its electrified suvs threatening to launch them by the end of the year in Europe.

Fang Cheng Super 9, the BYD supercar

The beauty and originality of the supercar created by the BYD brand's style manager, Wolfgang Egger, are reminiscent of the cultural references of Egger's best works. Working together with Walter de Silva, he transferred them to a Chinese model. The car made to celebrate 30 years since BYD was founded is already ready for production. Constructed entirely of carbon fibre, the Bao Super 9 is a futuristic two-seater with unobtrusive aerodynamics. Details such as the twin lights that recall the Fang Cheng logo do not go unnoticed, while the number 30 on the sides is the real link with the anniversary of the Dragon giant.

Geely is China's most multi-ethnic group

All the brands of the Asian giant, starting with Volvo, Polestar, Lynk&Co, Lotus and, why not, Smart, to name the best known, plus Farizon, Geometry, LECV, Proton, Zeekr and Zhidou, all of which operate forty plants with 120,000 employees, has taken the trouble to relaunch a brand, Smart, that has a difficult market position, but at the Beijing motor show presented the #5, the third model in the range with off-road shapes, even hard and pure, and with accessories dedicated to life away from the tarmac. Not to mention the Zeekr Mix, the electric van ready to compete with the Vw ID-Buzz with five seats, an 86 kWh battery developed with CATL, 800 V hardware plus 360 kW recharging: leading numbers.

Great Wall launches challenge on premium front

Eight years after the launch of its last sedan, one of the big manufacturers in the Dragon, Great Wall is back with a flagship to compete with the German premium brands. Designated ZX by the group's luxury brand, it is 5.5 metres long and fits a 23-inch heart. Rich in chrome styling elements on the window frames and in the cameras that replace the rear-view mirrors, it targets the long-wheelbase versions of the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes Maybach and Bentley. Added to this is the flagship model of the long-standing joint venture between BYD and Mercedes, the Denza Z9 GT shown at the Beijing motor show. It features a 952 hp drive unit with four motors for all four wheels and is set to compete on equal terms with her majesty Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

Europeans to the rescue in China

Mercedes and BMW with Mini raised their voices in Beijing with innovations ready to upset the plans of the premium manufacturers in the Dragon. Mercedes with the electric G-Class 580 extends the life of the historic three-pointed star suv: 587 hp, 2 more than the AMG version, will make the difference in the most extreme off-road conditions. Mini's new Aceman , on the other hand, besides replacing the Clebman, is the British brand's first electric-only model. It will initially be produced in China, but in 2026 assembly will also start in Oxford in the UK. With plenty of space, it is over 4 metres long and has a range of more than 400 km and a minimalist interior design. Finally, BMW is presenting the restyled 4 Series Gran Coupe and i4 electric variant in China. The global launch of the BMWs is planned as early as July. The Volkswagen group with the Audi and Lambo brands. Forty years old, 39 factories and 50 million customers, the Volkswagen group, including Audi and Lambo, presented itself in China with the ID.Code concept, which seems to be destined only for China, but if it were to materialise in Europe would give the IDs currently on the market a run for their money. At more than five metres long, it has the shape of a proper grand tourer and a level 4 autonomous driving system with never-before-seen technological solutions such as a system that recognises pedestrians and waves at them. Audi, on the other hand, debuted the long wheelbase variant of the Q6 e-tron destined for China and produced in the Chinese factory in Changchun. Lamborghini in Beijing unveiled the plug-in hybrid version of the Urus SUV credited with an overall power output of 800 hp and an electric range of over 50 km.

Japanese companies producing in China

Honda, Mazda and Nissan determined to compete with the Dragon brands. The range of electric models unveiled in China for the local market is called the Yè. In addition to the Yè P7 and Yè S7 that will go on sale on the local market at the end of 2024, there is the Yè GT Concept that anticipates a new model of the six planned in the short to medium term. Mazda celebrated its presence at the show with two previews, the EZ-6 and the Arata concept developed in a joint venture with local brand Changan and characterised by an innovative design that could also influence future models for other markets, not just China. Finally, Nissan is exhibiting four electrified concepts in Beijing: the Epoch, the Epic, the Era and the Evo: two electric and two plug-in developed with local partner Dongfeng. Brands ready to consolidate presence in China. Two Bevs for Toyota presented as concepts in Shanghai a year ago are now in their final stages ready for production with a view to sales within a year. These are the bZ3C and bZ3X, which are characterised by sporty styling and a raised stance between an SUV and a van, the first recalling the design of the Prius, the other having a spacious cabin. The Italdesign style centre, on the other hand, is exhibiting the Quintessence at the Beijing motor show, a concept developed for the Chinese market and based on an unprecedented mix of an SUV, a pick-up and a Granturismo. Buick's two concepts anticipating two production cars: the Electra L, a luxury electric saloon and the Electra LT, an off-road SUV, both with luxurious interiors and over 700 km range.

Xpeng for AI and Marelli's new functions

Instead of exhibiting new models at the Beijing motor show, the Dragon Company is focusing on the possible evolution of technology with the launch of a new brand called Mona scheduled for commercial launch in June. It stands for Made of New AI for all models that will adopt Artificial Intelligence. For the time being, Xpeng has not provided any other product details, postponing this until the eve of the launch. Marelli, on the other hand, Beijing presented new functions for on-board management and connectivity in general. These are the ProConnect platform that manages instrument cluster, infotainment devices and 5G connectivity in an integrated manner. As well as 360 degree lighting and communication technologies including a Lidar sensor in the front headlamp.