On August 21, the 29th Chengdu International Motor Show officially kicked off at the China Western International Expo City. Themed "Leading the Trend, Driving the Future," the show boasts a massive exhibition area of 220,000 square meters, bringing together nearly 120 mainstream domestic and international automobile brands and approximately 1,600 vehicles on display, showcasing the latest technological achievements and development trends in the global automotive industry.
As the first A-class auto show in the second half of the year, the Chengdu Motor Show serves as an irreplaceable bellwether for the industry. In a media interview, Liu Guoliang, Managing Director of Hanover Milan Exhibitions (China) Co., Ltd., pointed out that this year's event is not just a "showcase" but also a "testing ground." He noted that the convergence of three key anchors—timing, geography, and strategy—constitutes its core value. In terms of timing, the auto show is strategically scheduled right before the "Golden September and Silver October" peak season, with the performance of domestic automakers here foreshadowing market trends for the second half of the year. Geographically, the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle is accelerating the joint development of a world-class intelligent connected new energy vehicle industrial cluster, and Chengdu remains the most active city for auto consumption in western China. Strategically, the Chengdu Motor Show has firmly secured its place among China's top four A-class auto shows, standing as the largest UFI-certified industry event in western China.
Currently, China's auto market is at a critical juncture of profound adjustment and structural transformation. According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to July 2026, China's automobile production and sales reached 17.567 million and 17.602 million units respectively, representing a year-on-year decline of 3.7% for both, though the decline has further narrowed compared to the first half of the year. Notably, the share of new energy vehicle sales in total new car sales surpassed 50% for the first time, reaching 51.2%. In July, automobile exports hit 1.043 million units, a year-on-year surge of 81.3%, marking the second consecutive month exceeding one million units. Liu Guoliang noted that against a backdrop of stark market contrasts, simple price cuts are no longer sufficient to secure orders; technological breakthroughs and value enhancement are now the keys to winning over consumers.
In terms of new vehicle launches, this year's show features a host of global debuts, national premieres, and Southwest China premieres. Among domestic brands, BYD unveiled the "Da Han," the first D-class luxury flagship sedan under its Dynasty series, in its global debut. Five brands under Chery Group shared the stage, with the Jetour Traveler series opening blind pre-orders. All six brands of Great Wall Motor made an appearance. Geely introduced its first AI-powered all-terrain hardcore SUV, the Galaxy Battleship 700. Deepal Auto debuted the all-new Deepal S05 nationwide. Stelato Auto premiered its rugged luxury off-roader G9 and the all-new Stelato V8 MPV.
The spotlight in the new energy sector falls on the debut of the "Five Jie" and "Three Jing" lineups in Chengdu. Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance brought its five-brand matrix comprising Shangjie, Luxeed, Stelato, AITO, and Maextro, with the flagship MPVs Maextro V800 and V680 making their national premieres. The "Three Jing" models—Qijing, Huajing, and Yijing, empowered by Huawei's Qiankun ADS, were also on display. Additionally, models such as the XPeng G9L, the all-new Li Auto L9 Livis, and the Xiaomi Pengcheng N90 Max competed side by side. Luxury and joint-venture brands also rolled out differentiated strategies. The all-new Mercedes-Benz long-wheelbase GLE SUV made its global debut and was open for test drives. The BMW New Generation iX3 long-wheelbase version opened for pre-sales. FAW-Audi assembled its dual product lines. The FREELANDER brand, jointly created by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, made its debut with the first mass-produced model, the FREELANDER 8. SAIC Volkswagen globally launched the all-new ID.ERA 8X and 5X.
Notably, "Made in Chengdu" new products and industry chains have become a major highlight of this auto show. The mass-produced version of the Yijing X9, a full-size flagship SUV jointly developed by Dongfeng and Huawei, commenced deliveries. The Jetta brand showcased its first new energy vehicle concept car and a pure electric architecture vehicle. Multiple "Made in Chengdu" models, including the Volvo EX90, Zeekr X, and Lynk & Co Z20, were exhibited in a concentrated display. Meanwhile, the auto show established a dedicated "Made in Chengdu" intelligent connected vehicle industry chain zone for the first time, presenting the latest achievements in the "three-electric" systems and intelligent connectivity, and building a targeted matchmaking platform. The Chengdu International Motor Show Organizing Committee stated that this reflects Chengdu's automotive industry's capability to transition from manufacturing to branding and consumption, turning "Made in Chengdu" into a tangible and experiential brand identity.
Looking ahead, the Chengdu Motor Show is not only an industry gala but also a powerful engine for consumption. Reviewing the 2025 Chengdu Motor Show, 70 new cars were unveiled and 61 press conferences were held on the first day alone, attracting a cumulative 910,200 visitors, generating 33,745 orders, and achieving a total transaction value of 5.753 billion yuan. Liu Guoliang emphasized that coupled with "trade-in" subsidies and local consumption-boosting measures, there is confidence in continuing to serve as a powerful catalyst for the "Golden September and Silver October" peak consumption season. The Organizing Committee also pointed out that the Chengdu Motor Show builds on the market shifts of the first half of the year and shapes the consumption pace for the second half. It integrates the functions of new car showcasing and consumption conversion, truly reflecting the end-market consumption demand in the western region.