On August 21, the 29th Chengdu International Auto Show, themed "Leading the Trend, Driving the Future," grandly opened at the China Western International Expo City. As the first major auto event following Chengdu's approval as a national pilot city for auto distribution and consumption reform, and the first Class-A auto show in the second half of the year, the exhibition once again serves as the bellwether for the auto market in central and western China. Spanning an exhibition area of 220,000 square meters, the show gathers nearly 120 mainstream domestic and international auto brands with approximately 1,600 vehicles on display. On the opening day, 56 brand launch events were held in intensive succession, with 71 vehicles making their global, national, or Southwest China debuts, or newly launched models being unveiled, comprehensively showcasing the critical leap of China's auto industry from widespread electrification to deep intelligent integration. The show runs until August 30.
This year's auto show presents a new industrial landscape where brands across all market segments compete on the same stage and coexist in a diversified ecosystem. Domestic brands made a concentrated appearance in group formations. BYD Group occupied a dedicated pavilion in Hall 9, showcasing its five sub-brands—Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang—simultaneously, with the Dynasty series' "Da Han," Fangchengbao Tai 9, and Fangcheng S GT making their global debuts. Chery Group gathered its five brands in Hall 5, unveiling new models such as the Fengyun T7. Great Wall Motor took the core exhibition area in Hall 1, featuring the all-new Tank 300 and other models, while BAIC Group brought models including the Arcfox Alpha T7. Geely, Deepal, Dongfeng, and other brands also debuted new products. EV startups continued to push the boundaries of innovation. Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance showcased its five-brand matrix—AITO, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and Shangjie—with the era's flagship MPVs, Maextro V800 and V680, making their auto show debut. XPeng brought the MONA L03, equipped with the second-generation VLA autonomous driving system. Xiaomi Auto introduced two all-new smart SUVs, Leapmotor's A05 made its debut, and the IM L6 simultaneously launched the world's first co-branded model.
Luxury and mainstream joint-venture brands continued to advance their electrification transformation and localization strategies. The all-new long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV made its global debut and opened for public test drives for the first time. The long-wheelbase BMW iX3 of the New Generation opened for pre-sales, and FAW-Audi assembled its full lineup across both ICE and BEV product lines. The FREELANDER brand, jointly created by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, made its debut, with its first production model, Freelander 8, officially unveiled. Among mainstream joint ventures, heavy-hitting models such as the new Buick GL8 Lushang and the all-new SAIC Volkswagen ID.ERA 8X were showcased. Additionally, the domestic racing brand NXT Motorsport launched its first model, the NXT MK1 EVO, globally, showcasing China's motorsport engineering capabilities.
Cutting-edge technologies were transformed into tangible experiences for visitors through a combination of static displays and dynamic demonstrations. Great Wall Motor presented core technologies such as the Guiyuan technical architecture and fully self-developed V8/V6 engines. BYD showcased the second-generation Blade Battery, the "Eye of God" intelligent driving system, and flash charging technology. Chery presented two major technology modules: the Rhinoceros Battery and AI intelligence. In the outdoor exhibition area, BYD's Technology Open Day featured live demonstrations including the unmanned drift of the Denza Z9GT and the emergency water flotation of the Yangwang U8. Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5, 800V high-voltage platform, and 6C ultra-fast charging technology were all on display, reflecting the accelerating mass production and commercialization of intelligent and electrified technologies.
Echoing the roar of new cars inside the exhibition halls, the 2026 Automotive Pioneer Symposium, themed "Honing Innovation, Driving New Success," was held at the Shudu Hall of the Tianfu International Convention Center on August 21. Over 200 industry guests gathered, with more than 50 mainstream media outlets providing comprehensive coverage. The Zhilu Awards were also presented during the event, calibrating the course for the next leap of China's auto industry. Meanwhile, the Auto Export Business Matchmaking Conference, themed "The Practical Path of Export Pioneers," brought together exporting automakers and international buyers, opening up channels from production lines in western China to global markets.
Strolling through the exhibition halls, the "Made in Chengdu" logo frequently caught the eye. Vehicle manufacturers in Chengdu showcased 15 "Made in Chengdu" models, including the FAW Toyota Avalon, Dongfeng Yijing X9 production version, Jetta EV M6, and Volvo's all-electric flagship. The auto show also innovatively created a dedicated zone for the "Made in Chengdu" intelligent connected vehicle industry chain, organizing 10 representative enterprises to showcase cutting-edge technologies. From January to July this year, Chengdu's auto production reached 378,000 units, including 142,000 NEVs, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. Exports reached 38,000 units, a significant year-on-year surge of 75.8%. New energy vehicles are accelerating as the main engine of growth for Chengdu's auto industry.
Centered around the "MOVE Chengdu" series of events, this year's auto show created the Super Car Paradise, an auto model zone, and a Splash & Play Lifestyle Party, extending auto culture into an immersive experience. To comprehensively stimulate auto consumption, key districts and counties introduced auto consumption incentives, while on-site "Buy a Car, Win Cash" campaigns were launched, with brands simultaneously offering exclusive discounts. The official test drive and ride experience zone was fully opened, introducing intelligent driving experiences for the first time. An auto show ticket stub also entitles holders to discounts at over 800 merchants across the city and 11 A-level tourist attractions, extending the auto show experience into the city's broader consumption and cultural tourism network. After 29 years of continuous dedication, the Chengdu International Auto Show, alongside China's auto industry, is driving towards a farther horizon defined by value leadership.