Chengdu Motor Show 2026 retrospective: Chery's five-brand, 38-model display in a show of premieres and shifting priorities

A 10-day show built around electrification and intelligent technology

The 29th Chengdu International Auto Show opened on 21 August 2026 at the China Western International Expo City under the theme 'Leading the Tide, Driving Innovation', running through 30 August. According to the show's opening report from hqbl.cn, the exhibition spanned 220,000 square metres and brought together nearly 120 mainstream domestic and international auto brands with approximately 1,600 vehicles. It was billed as the first major Category A auto show of the second half of the year and the first since Chengdu was approved as a national pilot city for auto distribution and consumption reform. ²

China Daily's 24 August report corroborated the scale and dates, stating that around 120 major domestic and international automakers were showcasing about 1,600 vehicles from 21 to 30 August. The publication quoted Liu Guoliang, general manager of organiser Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai, as saying the wide range of debut models across segments gave visitors 'a clear picture of the latest industry developments and market trends'. ¹

On opening day, organisers reported 56 brand launch events held in intensive succession, with 71 new models making their global, China or Southwest China premieres or officially reaching the market. These figures come from the hqbl.cn opening-day account and apply to the whole show, not to any single manufacturer; they should not be read as meaning every displayed model was new or a world premiere. ²

Chery Group's five-brand presence and the FREELANDER debut

Chery Group brought its five brands together in Hall 5, unveiling new Chery models including the Fengyun T7 and the Arrizo 7, according to hqbl.cn's opening report. China Daily separately reported that Chery Group was displaying 38 models from all five of its brands. Neither report names all five brands explicitly or itemises the full 38-model line-up, and neither states how many of the 38 were new launches rather than existing models on display. ²¹

On technology, hqbl.cn reported that Chery highlighted its Rhino Battery and AI intelligence technologies among the show's cutting-edge exhibits. No battery chemistry, capacity, voltage or charging figures for the Chery exhibits are given in the available show reports. ²

Among the group's most notable moves, hqbl.cn reported that FREELANDER, a brand jointly created by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, made its debut at the show, with its first production model, the Freelander 8, on display. This positions the new brand's first model as a production vehicle rather than a concept, although the report does not specify powertrain, specifications, pricing or on-sale timing. ²

The FREELANDER debut sat within a broader pattern China Daily described at the show: joint ventures taking new forms, with multinational automakers increasingly relying on Chinese technologies and R&D capability and exploring exports of products developed in China to global markets. As a concrete example, China Daily reported that BMW had started taking orders for its long-wheelbase Neue Klasse iX3 at the show. The publication cited this trend generally and did not tie it to specific launch dates or export plans for the Freelander 8. ¹

Headline premieres from BYD, the joint-venture and luxury brands

BYD Group set up a dedicated pavilion in Hall 9 featuring its five sub-brands — Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang — with the Dynasty series 'Da Han', the Fangchengbao Tai 9 and the Fangcheng SGT making their global debuts, according to hqbl.cn. The report also recorded the FREELANDER premiere and a global launch by domestic racing brand NXT Motorsport of its first model, the NXT MK1 EVO. ²

The show's global debuts extended beyond the Chinese groups. hqbl.cn reported that the all-new long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV made its global premiere at the event, while the new-generation long-wheelbase BMW iX3 opened for pre-sale. FAW Audi presented new versions including the E5 Sportback, and other major brands including Audi, Volkswagen, Buick, Toyota and Honda were reported by China Daily as displaying new electric and intelligent models tailored for Chinese customers. ²¹

On the new energy side, hqbl.cn reported that the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance debuted with a five-brand matrix comprising AITO, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro and Shangjie, with the flagship MPVs Maextro V800 and V680 making their auto show debut. The same report noted the XPeng MONA L03 as the first SUV in the MONA series, Xiaomi Auto's unveiling of two new smart SUVs, the Pengcheng N90 Max and N70 Max, the Leapmotor A05's auto show debut and the introduction of the all-new IM L6, alongside the all-new Deepal S05's China premiere. ²

Technology displays beyond the launch list

Great Wall Motor, which occupied the core exhibition area in Hall 1 with the all-new Tank 300 and Wey V8X appearing, showcased core technological achievements including the Guiyuan technology architecture, the Hi4 intelligent four-wheel-drive hybrid system and fully self-developed V8 and V6 engines, according to hqbl.cn. BYD presented its second-generation Blade Battery and the Eye of God intelligent driving system, while Chery highlighted its Rhino Battery and AI intelligence technologies. ²

Huawei's exhibits were also reported: hqbl.cn listed the Qiankun ADS 5, an 800V high-voltage platform and 6C ultra-fast charging technology on full display. The outdoor area focused on real-world experiences, with BYD's Tech Open Day featuring live demonstrations such as the Denza Z9GT's autonomous drifting and the Yangwang U8's emergency water flotation and 45-degree slope climbing challenges. ²

A market of 'ice and fire': the backdrop to the launches

China Daily framed the show as a key indicator of market outlook during a period of structural change. It reported that Chinese passenger vehicle sales fell 24.3 per cent year-on-year to 8.29 million units in the first half of 2026, with traditional fuel-powered passenger vehicle sales down 31.9 per cent to 3.69 million units, while new energy vehicle sales rose 7.3 per cent. Organiser Liu Guoliang described the market as 'experiencing an interplay of ice and fire', referring to overall contraction alongside accelerating electrified and intelligent vehicle development. ¹

The same report noted that competition was shifting from price towards technology, product value and brand differentiation. Wang Xia, president of the automotive sub-council at the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told the event that sales are 'a fast variable' while technology, brands, partnerships and industrial ecosystems are 'slow variables' that more fundamentally determine competitiveness. 'China used to exchange its market for technology; today, China is using technology to compete in the world,' Wang said, according to China Daily, which also cited his figures that China accounted for 35.6 per cent of global automobile patent publications over the past decade and that 17 Chinese companies appeared on the 2026 global top 100 automotive suppliers list. ¹

Export figures cited at the event and reported by China Daily underscored the overseas dimension: China exported 5.1 million vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 65.3 per cent year-on-year, with new energy vehicle exports more than doubling to 2.36 million units. Wang said more than 100 Chinese vehicle production bases had been established overseas, with capacity exceeding 2.5 million vehicles. ¹

China Daily reported that, in the view of analysts it cited, the show was more than a platform for new-car launches: it was also a test of how automakers respond to a shrinking market, increasingly demanding consumers and intensifying global competition. The publication said the emerging message was that technological capability, global competitiveness and value creation were becoming increasingly important alongside sales volume. ¹

Chengdu as a manufacturing and export hub

The show leaned on its host city's industrial base. hqbl.cn reported that local manufacturers displayed 15 'Made in Chengdu' models, including the Jetour Electric M6 alongside vehicles from FAW Toyota, Dongfeng, Volvo, Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën and Lynk & Co. The show also established a dedicated zone for the 'Made in Chengdu' intelligent connected vehicle industry chain, with 10 representative enterprises exhibiting technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, automotive electronics and intelligent cockpits. ²

China Daily similarly reported a first-time dedicated area showcasing technologies in batteries, electric drive systems and intelligent connectivity, noting that vehicles produced in Chengdu by brands including Volvo, Zeekr, Lynk & Co and Jetta were also on display — a brand list that extends the local-manufacturing record beyond the names in the hqbl.cn account. ¹

hqbl.cn cited production data showing Chengdu built 378,000 vehicles from January to July 2026, including 142,000 new energy vehicles, up 3.6 per cent year-on-year, with exports of 38,000 units up 75.8 per cent. An Auto Export Business Matchmaking Conference held on 21 August was reported as part of the push to connect western production lines with global markets, consistent with China Daily's characterisation of Chengdu as a gateway for Chinese vehicles entering global markets. ²¹