On August 21, the 2026 Chengdu International Auto Show is set to kick off at the Western China International Expo City. With nearly 120 automotive brands and around 1,600 vehicles on display, the scale of the Chengdu Auto Show remains as impressive as ever. However, this year's event is not just about which brands are showcasing their wares; it's also about the 'exhibition footprint'—the amount of space each automaker commands.

Judging from the floor plan released so far, this year's Chengdu Auto Show promises a captivating 'space race': BYD and Chery have secured entire pavilions, while Great Wall Motors and HiMo Zhixing (Hongmeng Zhixing) have taken over half-pavilions. In stark contrast, some luxury, ultra-luxury, traditional foreign, and joint-venture brands have chosen to sit this one out.

The contrast in exhibition space and participation among different brands is striking. More significantly, the 'prime real estate' at the auto show is undergoing a transformation. Nowadays, larger exhibition areas are predominantly occupied by domestic automakers and new energy brands, with booth sizes reflecting the shifting competitive landscape in the automotive industry.

BYD - Pavilion 9 (Entire Pavilion)
After making its debut with a dedicated pavilion in 2024, BYD has secured an entire pavilion at the Chengdu Auto Show for three consecutive years. This year, BYD once again occupies Pavilion 9, showcasing its four major brands—BYD, Denza, Yangwang, and Fangcheng Bao—under one roof. The exhibition will feature the 'Divine Eye' intelligent driving experience zone and a flash charging technology area, providing a comprehensive showcase of its core new energy technologies.

At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, BYD will introduce at least nine new models, spanning various market segments from home use to luxury. The Dynasty series will feature flagship models like the BYD Han and the third-generation Tang; the Ocean series will showcase the Haishi 08; Fangcheng Bao will display models such as the Titan 9, Fangcheng S, Fangcheng S GT, and the Fangcheng Bao Shark; Denza will present the Denza Z hardtop version and the Denza Z9S. This dense lineup of new models vividly demonstrates the advantages of BYD's multi-brand strategy, with the entire pavilion layout reflecting BYD's growing market clout.

Data shows that from January to July 2026, BYD's cumulative sales exceeded 2.227 million units; to date, its cumulative new energy vehicle sales have surpassed 17.3 million units, maintaining its leading position in the new energy market. This 'pavilion takeover' not only showcases BYD's strength in multi-brand and multi-product strategies but also underscores its increasing influence in the new energy market.

Chery - Pavilion 5 (Entire Pavilion)
This year, Chery Group continues to showcase at the Chengdu Auto Show with a dedicated pavilion, bringing together five major brands—Chery, iCAR, Exeed, Jetour, and Omoda—in Pavilion 5. The exhibition features a 'Chery Lifestyle' zone, along with technology display areas for 'Rhino Battery' and 'AI Intelligence,' showcasing the brand matrix and its technological prowess in the intelligent electric vehicle sector.

At the auto show, Chery Group will unveil several new models across various market segments, including sedans and SUVs. The classic QQ3 Retro Edition makes an appearance, the all-new Chery Arrizo 7 debuts, and the Fengyun A9L Sport Edition is officially launched; the iCAR V25 makes its first appearance; the Exeed EX6 has its global premiere; the Jetour Traveler series opens for blind orders, and the brand's first all-electric boxy SUV, the Globetrotter, will also make its debut.

Chery Group has maintained steady growth this year. From January to July 2026, cumulative sales reached 1.634 million units, up 10.1% year-on-year. Of this, exports totaled 1.146 million units, and new energy vehicle sales reached 605,000 units. Behind these impressive figures lies Chery's accelerated new energy transformation, expansion into overseas markets, and continuous improvement of its product matrix. Chery's participation with a dedicated pavilion this time reflects not only its own strength but also the confidence derived from its multi-brand strategy and diverse product lineup.

Great Wall Motors - Pavilion 1 (Half Pavilion)
At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, Great Wall Motors occupies half of Pavilion 1, showcasing its six major brands—Wey, Ora, Haval, Tank, Great Wall Cannon, and Great Wall Soul. The exhibition will feature models such as the Wey V8X and Great Wall H10, as well as new energy products like the Great Wall Cannon Hi4-T.

Additionally, Great Wall Motors will showcase technological achievements such as the Super V8 Engine and carbon fiber lightweighting. This year, Great Wall Motors has maintained steady growth, with cumulative new vehicle sales of 692,000 units from January to July, up 2.64% year-on-year. Among them, Haval sold 383,600 units, Tank sold 109,900 units, and Great Wall Cannon sold 108,500 units. Today, Haval remains the sales mainstay for Great Wall Motors, Tank holds its ground in the off-road market, Great Wall Cannon maintains its advantage in the pickup market, while Wey and Ora expand into new markets with new energy models, bringing new growth opportunities for Great Wall. The concentrated appearance of multiple brands and models from Great Wall Motors reflects the scale of its participation, occupying 'half the pavilion.'

HiMo Zhixing (Hongmeng Zhixing) - Pavilion 3 (Half Pavilion)
In recent years, with the gradual completion of its 'Five Brands' lineup, HiMo Zhixing (Hongmeng Zhixing) has continuously expanded its presence at the Chengdu Auto Show. From initially showcasing only the Aito brand to now displaying multiple brands at a half-pavilion scale, HiMo Zhixing has become a major highlight of the auto show.

At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, HiMo Zhixing will showcase its five major brands—Aito, Luxeed, Enjoyment, Zeekr, and Shangjie—along with the 'Three Realms' models—Qijing, Huajing, and Yijing—equipped with Qiankun Intelligent Driving technology. Several heavyweight new models will be on display, including the national debuts of the Zeekr V800 and V680; the first appearance of the Zeekr S800 Collection Edition; and the simultaneous launch of models such as the Enjoyment G9, Luxeed RX, Aito M9, Shangjie Z7, and Yijing X9.

Powered by Huawei's technological capabilities and a multi-brand strategy, HiMo Zhixing has rapidly risen to become a significant player in the new energy market. Currently, Aito remains the sales leader, while brands like Luxeed, Enjoyment, Zeekr, and Shangjie continue to expand their product lineups, enabling HiMo Zhixing to cover more market segments. HiMo Zhixing's half-pavilion presence at the Chengdu Auto Show this time is not only a result of the concentrated display of the 'Five Brands and Three Realms' but also reflects its growing influence in the new energy market.

This year, the changes in automakers securing entire pavilions or half-pavilions at the Chengdu Auto Show reflect shifts in the competitive landscape of the automotive industry. From the exhibition layout, the large-scale exhibition areas are predominantly occupied by leading automakers such as BYD, Chery, and Great Wall, which support their expansive booths with multi-brand, multi-model lineups and stronger financial capabilities. In contrast, brands like Honda and Toyota have relatively 'low-profile' exhibition areas, with some even absent from the auto show.

This also indicates that, against the backdrop of accelerated new energy transformation, joint-venture and foreign brands are facing greater challenges in product updates, technological transformation, and market competitiveness. Meanwhile, from the exhibition layout, new energy models, intelligent cockpits, advanced driver-assistance systems, flash charging, and other technological achievements have become the focus of major automakers' displays. Thus, electrification and intelligence have become the focal points of competition among automakers.

Today, for automakers to secure the 'prime spots' at auto shows, they need not only a strong product lineup to support their booths but also the ability to continuously innovate and iterate technologies. The changes in the exhibition layout and focus at the Chengdu Auto Show also reflect the transformation of competitive strategies in the automotive industry in the new energy era. (Images sourced from the internet; removal upon infringement notice)