The biennial Beijing Auto Show has officially commenced, heralding a new era in the automotive industry.

Expanding from its 2024 edition, the 2026 show now boasts a sprawling exhibition area of 380,000 square meters, showcasing 1,451 vehicles, including 181 global or China premieres. This scale solidifies its position as the world's largest auto exhibition.

The exhibitor lineup is stellar, with leading brands showcasing their flagship products. BBA and Volkswagen, among others, have unveiled their much-anticipated BEV debuts and next-generation models, intensifying their strategies in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market. Notably, Peugeot Citroën and Beijing Hyundai, absent from auto shows for years, have made a triumphant return with new exhibits.

Among the standout models, the all-new electric GLC L, Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, SAIC Audi E7X, Jetta JETTA X concept car, and the new-generation long-wheelbase iX3 are making their debuts, introducing fresh dynamics to China's fiercely competitive auto market.

All-New Electric GLC L

The all-new electric GLC L made its debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. Official data reveals a wheelbase of 3,027mm, extending 55mm beyond the overseas version, and offering both five-seat and six-seat configurations.

In terms of intelligent driving, the GLC L is equipped with a comprehensive perception hardware suite, including 10 cameras, 5 radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. This enables advanced assistance functions such as highway NOA, urban NOA without maps, and memory parking. Powered by an 89kWh CATL battery pack, the vehicle offers a CLTC pure electric range of up to 703km.

Upon launch, the all-new electric GLC L will compete in the luxury market alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLC fuel version and domestically produced electric SUVs. Given the GLC fuel version's status as Mercedes-Benz's best-seller, the electric version is poised for continued success.

BMW i7

BMW's new flagship electric sedan, the i7, made its global debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, marking BMW's highest-positioned electric sedan to date.

For intelligent driving, the i7 adopts Momenta's intelligent driving solution, featuring LiDAR, high-definition cameras, and 4D imaging millimeter-wave radar. This enables L2++ advanced assistance for both highways and urban roads, with an optional L3 conditional autonomous driving capability.

A core upgrade comes from the 4695 battery supplied by Croatian supercar company Rimac, offering longer range, faster charging, stronger performance, lighter weight, enhanced safety, and a longer lifespan.

This marks the first time BMW has chosen a market outside Europe for the global debut of its flagship sedan, underscoring its significance.

New-Generation Long-Wheelbase iX3

As BMW's first mass-produced model under its new-generation technology roadmap, the new-generation long-wheelbase iX3 made its global debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, with plans for an official launch in the first half of the year. The vehicle's wheelbase is extended by 108mm compared to the overseas standard-wheelbase version, reaching 3,005mm, with all additional space dedicated to enhancing the second-row seating experience.

In terms of intelligence, the vehicle is equipped with a full-scenario navigation assistance system co-developed with Momenta, tailored for China's complex road conditions. Additionally, it features the panoramic iDrive next-generation intelligent cockpit, built on China's new-generation operating system X, with 70% of the source code developed by a Chinese team. The vehicle also incorporates large language model technology co-developed with Alibaba and DeepSeek's large model capabilities, while supporting the HarmonyOS ecosystem and HUAWEI HiCar, significantly upgrading the localized experience.

Media predictions suggest pricing for the new-generation long-wheelbase iX3 may range between RMB 400,000 and RMB 550,000.

New-Generation Long-Wheelbase i3

The new-generation long-wheelbase i3, BMW China's second new-generation model, also made its debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.

Inside the cockpit, the vehicle features an all-new panoramic iDrive interaction system, including a horizon panoramic display, 3D head-up display, a driver-oriented central console screen, and a steering wheel with tactile feedback. This keeps key information within the driver's natural line of sight. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a "Driving Control Super Brain" computer, managing dynamic functions such as the powertrain, braking system, and energy recovery, collaborating with three other computers to form a new electronic software architecture, offering improved overall response speed compared to the previous generation.

Furthermore, the vehicle achieves a WLTP pure electric range of 900km and supports DC fast charging at up to 400kW, allowing for approximately 400km of range to be replenished in just 10 minutes of charging under ideal conditions.

Some observers suggest pricing may fall between RMB 320,000 and RMB 420,000. Based on its price and product strength, would you consider purchasing this vehicle?

SAIC Audi E7X

As the brand's flagship intelligent performance SUV, the E7X is the first major model to embody technical achievements from the Shanghai Innovation Technology Center, positioned as a "smart driving control large five-seater" electric SUV.

The vehicle measures 5,049mm in length, 2,002mm in width, and 1,708mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,060mm. The SAIC Audi E7X comes standard with a roof-mounted LiDAR and features cameras on the front fenders and exterior mirrors. It is expected to be equipped with an assistance driving system co-developed with Momenta, supporting navigation functions for both highways and urban roads. The interior is equipped with a 27-inch panoramic central console screen and AR-HUD head-up display, powered by a Qualcomm 8295 chip and the AUDI OS system.

In terms of electrification, the battery is supplied by SAIC-CATL, with capacities of 100kWh and 109.3kWh, offering CLTC ranges of 615-751km accordingly.

Pricing for the vehicle is expected to range between RMB 300,000 and RMB 400,000, with an official launch scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X

The Volkswagen ID.ERA 9X will be officially unveiled at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show on April 25. Pre-sales have already commenced, with pricing ranging from RMB 329,800 to RMB 379,800.

The Volkswagen ID.ERA 9X measures 5,207×1,997×1,810mm with a wheelbase of 3,070mm, making it Volkswagen's largest global SUV model. In terms of intelligence, the vehicle will feature the "Xingyun" intelligent assistance driving system co-developed by SAIC Volkswagen and Momenta, claiming deep understanding of the physical world and precise prediction of road conditions and interactions. The vehicle is equipped with 26 perception sensors, supporting functions such as narrow space assistance, highway/urban navigation assistance, intelligent parking, and reverse tracking. For the chassis, the ID.ERA 9X will adopt the "Xingyun" intelligent chassis system, with a dual-chamber air suspension offering a massive 150mm adjustment range.

Since opening pre-sales, the Volkswagen ID.ERA 9X has generated significant offline interest, with all eyes on its official pricing. Some netizens suggest that if the Pro and Max versions see a price reduction of RMB 30,000 after various subsidies, it would be highly attractive.

Volkswagen ID. AURA T6

The Volkswagen ID. AURA T6, the first electric SUV resulting from Volkswagen's collaboration with Xpeng, will also make its debut at the auto show. Positioned as a mid-size electric SUV, it features a five-seat layout.

For intelligent driving, the vehicle is equipped with an intelligent driving assistance system developed by Horizon Robotics, a joint venture between Volkswagen and Horizon, and features perception devices such as LiDAR and the "Intelligent Driving Blue Light." Notably, the Volkswagen ID. AURA T6 is the first model built on the CEA electronic and electrical architecture, adopting a central computing + zone control hardware layout.

After spy shots of this mysterious new vehicle surfaced online, it sparked heated discussions. As "Volkswagen's first LiDAR-equipped electric SUV," this new model has been dubbed by netizens as "the most anticipated joint venture electric vehicle of 2026."

Jetta JETTA X Concept Car

The Jetta JETTA is Volkswagen's entry-level new energy vehicle strategic model series, primarily targeting the mainstream consumer market at the RMB 100,000 price point.

From official images, the JETTA X concept car adopts a boxy and robust design style. At the front, the vehicle features the brand's latest split headlight setup, paired with a black front bumper, enhancing the visual tension and sense of power in the front fascia. The side profile showcases muscular lines, with an elongated body size laying the foundation for a spacious interior, while the roof is equipped with a practical roof rack, balancing design aesthetics with daily usability.

More detailed parameter information about the model is yet to be officially disclosed, but the production version of the JETTA X concept car is expected to officially launch within this year.

In addition to the aforementioned German models, French and Korean brands are also making a full comeback at this year's Beijing Auto Show.

Peugeot plans to unveil its brand renewal strategy and introduce the global debut of multiple intelligent electric concept cars. Meanwhile, Dongfeng Citroën, in addition to the already facelifted and launched C5 X, will introduce another heavily anticipated new model with a futuristic positioning.

On the Beijing Hyundai front, its electrified brand Ioniq officially enters the Chinese market, with two new energy concept cars tailored for China—the VENUS CONCEPT and EARTH CONCEPT—making their debuts at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.

The collective efforts of joint venture brands at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show represent a crucial move to respond to China's NEV-dominated auto market and achieve strategic breakthroughs. German brands, led by BBA and Volkswagen, are launching transformation counterattacks through localization adaptations and technological upgrades, with Volkswagen covering the entire price spectrum. The return of French and Korean brands enriches the competitive landscape. The concentrated debut of these new models underscores joint venture brands' determination to integrate into China's NEV market.

(Image sources: Internet. Remove if infringement occurs.)