On August 21, 2026, the 29th Chengdu International Auto Show, themed "Leading the Trend, Forging Ahead with Innovation," officially kicked off at the China Western International Expo City. As the first A-class auto show in China in the second half of 2026, this grand event is not only the first major auto exhibition held in Chengdu since it was approved as a pilot city for national auto circulation and consumption reform, but also serves as a powerful warm-up for the traditional "Golden September and Silver October" peak auto sales season. Covering a total exhibition area of 220,000 square meters, the passenger vehicle section spans 11 halls, bringing together nearly 120 mainstream domestic and international auto brands and showcasing approximately 1,600 vehicles. As the highest-profile and most influential automotive event in central and western China, the Chengdu Auto Show has always focused on driving terminal consumption. Previous editions have attracted nearly one million visitors and generated over 33,000 orders, making it a key bellwether for the auto consumer market in western China.
The most striking feature of this year's show is the concentrated debut of flagship products from China's independent brands. Numerous technologies and models that previously existed only in the concept phase have made their public premieres in Chengdu. BYD set up a dedicated pavilion in Hall 9, where its first D-class luxury flagship sedan under the Dynasty network, the "Da Han," made its global premiere and opened for pre-sale. With a length of 5,256 mm and a wheelbase of 3,130 mm, it sets a new benchmark for the size of domestic pure electric sedans. It boasts a maximum CLTC pure electric range of over 1,008 km and is equipped with the second-generation Blade Battery, enabling ultra-fast charging from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes. It also features the DiPilot advanced intelligent driving system, DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension, and rear-wheel steering, with pre-sale prices ranging from 249,900 to 299,900 RMB. Additionally, the Fangchengbao Tai 9 full-size SUV, the Ocean network flagship SUV Sea Lion 08, and the all-new third-generation Tang made their stage debuts, while Denza and Yangwang, the two high-end sub-brands, presented their complete product lineups. Adhering to the philosophy of "ultimate technology as the core, Oriental haute couture as the soul," Yangwang introduced the U9 "Glimpse" personalized customization package and the U8L "Dingzang" edition "Snowy Dusk and Endless Mountains" haute couture themed package. These integrate intangible cultural heritage crafts such as traditional Tang Dynasty fine wood inlay with million-level automotive manufacturing standards, redefining the cultural essence of Chinese luxury new energy vehicles. Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance completed its first full assembly of its five brands: AITO, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and Shangjie. Models such as the Stelato G9, Luxeed RX, and Stelato V8 MPV, equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5.0 advanced intelligent driving system, were all on display. This full-scenario map-free intelligent driving system, featuring an 896-line LiDAR, opened its immersive experience to the public in Southwest China for the first time. Meanwhile, "box-style" rugged SUVs experienced an industry-wide explosion. From the 100,000 RMB-class iCAR V25 to the 300,000 RMB-class Deepal G318 and Tank 300L, and up to the high-end Geely Galaxy Warship 700 and Fangchengbao Tai 9, nearly 20 rugged models equally at home in the city and the wild made their joint debut, covering pure electric, plug-in hybrid, and ICE powertrains. Luxury and joint-venture brands also presented their latest milestones in localization. The BMW New Class iX3 long-wheelbase version and the all-new Mercedes-Benz long-wheelbase GLE made their Chinese debuts, while multiple new energy vehicles from SAIC Volkswagen's ID.ERA series were showcased, demonstrating the electrification achievements of foreign brands under the "in China, for China" strategy.
If the core keyword of previous auto shows was the popularization of electrification, then the most profound change at the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show is that cutting-edge technologies, once exclusive to million-yuan luxury cars and concept vehicles, are being rapidly trickled down to 150,000 RMB-class family cars at an astonishing speed. BYD brought an ultra-fast charging test chamber for minus 30°C low-temperature environments, demonstrating to visitors the battery replenishment efficiency in extremely cold conditions, directly addressing the charging anxiety of new energy vehicle owners in northern China during winter. Chery publicly exhibited solid-state battery prototypes for the first time, signaling that the next generation of power batteries is getting closer to mass production. Huawei's newly launched HarmonySpace 6 smart cockpit also made its real-vehicle debut at the auto show. The full-scenario AI assistant and seamless multi-device interaction experience have redefined the usage logic of smart cockpits. The show also established the first "Made in Chengdu" intelligent connected vehicle industry chain zone, showcasing the latest achievements of Chengdu's auto industry as it extends from vehicle manufacturing to core technology R&D. The mass-produced version of the Yijing X9, a full-size flagship SUV jointly developed by Dongfeng and Huawei, kicked off deliveries on-site. The Jetta brand brought its first new energy model, the M6, based on its self-developed Jiesi pure electric architecture. Together with models like the Volvo EX90 and Zeekr X, a total of 21 "Made in Chengdu" models made a collective appearance. Currently, Chengdu has gathered 12 vehicle manufacturing enterprises, over 1,000 parts suppliers including Bosch and Desay SV, with an annual vehicle production capacity of 1.454 million units and an average annual output of over 800,000 units. A complete intelligent vehicle industry ecosystem has taken shape in western China.
The show runs from August 21 to August 30, with August 21 designated as Press Day and August 22 to 30 open to the public. Daily opening hours are from 9:00 to 17:30. In addition to viewing new cars and experiencing cutting-edge technologies, the venue simultaneously hosted industry events such as the Auto Global Expansion Business Matchmaking Conference, the Auto Pioneer Thought Forum, and the annual Zhilu Awards selection, deeply integrating industry exchange with public exhibition viewing. Unlike traditional auto shows that focus solely on new cars in the exhibition halls, this year's show has set up numerous interactive experience zones. Visitors can step into a VR time-space tunnel for an immersive experience of L3 autonomous driving capabilities across all scenarios, or visit the low-altitude mobility exhibition area to get a close-up look at the "Land Aircraft Carrier" modular flying car, exploring more possibilities for future mobility.
As the wave of widespread electrification reaches its peak, intelligence is emerging as the new driving force of the automotive industry. The 2026 Chengdu Auto Show serves as a clear cross-section of the industry: China's auto industry is no longer just following the footsteps of overseas brands to complete its electrification transformation. Instead, it is beginning to seize the right to define new tracks such as intelligent driving, smart cockpits, core EV powertrain technologies, and Oriental luxury design. This grand automotive event in Chengdu is also becoming a brand-new starting point for the upward breakthrough of China's automotive industry.