Chengdu Auto Show 2026: top new launches

The 29th Chengdu International Automobile Exhibition (2026 Chengdu Auto Show) opened August 21 and will be held from August 21 to 30 at the Western China Expo City in Chengdu, Sichuan province, making it China's first A-level auto show of the second half of the year. 

The first day was reserved for the media, August 22–23 for trade visitors, and the show opens to the general public on August 24. 

The show will cover 220,000 square meters and bring together nearly 120 domestic and international brands as well as about 1,600 display vehicles. As one of China's five A-level auto shows, the Chengdu event is seen as a barometer of demand in the southwestern Chinese market. It is also a key window for automakers ahead of the peak sales season. Here the most important launches:

BYD DA HAN

BYD has started pre-sales of the Da Han, the new flagship sedan under its Dynasty lineup, with the all-electric version offering a CLTC range of up to 1,008 km.

The Da Han EV made its official debut on Friday, the opening day of the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, and began pre-sales with 2 rear-wheel-drive variants and 1 all-wheel-drive variant. The alternative variant of this car’s name is Great Han.

Dimensions of the Da Han are 5256/1999/1510 mm with a wheelbase of 3,130 mm. The Da Han adopts the DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension that increases the ground clearance by 100 mm. Another benefit of this car is rear-wheel steering, bringing the turning radius to just 4.95 meters.

The biggest highlight of the Da Han EV is its powertrain. Its entry-level model adopts a single e-motor with a peak power of 370 kW (496 hp). Thanks to a 102.326 kWh battery pack, the single-motor Da Han can run up to 1,008 km under CLTC conditions. 

The top-trim AWD version of this model, with a combined peak power of 570 kW (764 hp), has the same battery for an 880 km range. All versions of this vehicle support flash charging technology, allowing the Da Han to charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The Da Han will also be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain variant in the future, powered by a 1.5T turbocharged engine with a peak power of 115 kW (154 hp) and a drive motor with a peak output of 200 kW (268 hp).

The 1,008-km rear-wheel-drive LiDAR Premium variant has a pre-sales price of 249,900 yuan ($36,850), while the 1,008-km rear-wheel-drive LiDAR Flagship variant is priced at 269,900 yuan ($40,145). The 880-km all-wheel-drive LiDAR Flagship variant is priced at 299,900 yuan ($44,605), making it the current top-of-the-line Da Han EV.

VOLKSWAGEN ID.ERA 5S

SAIC Volkswagen officially launched the ID. ERA 5S plug-in hybrid sedan. The ID. ERA 5S is the second model in the ID. ERA lineup and its first sedan, following the ID. ERA 9X extended-range SUV.

The model measures 4,836 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width and 1,505 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,766 mm and a drag coefficient of 0.247.

The ID. ERA 5S uses a 1.5-liter plug-in hybrid system, with the engine delivering a maximum power output of 80 kW and the drive motor producing peak power of 130 kW.

It has a CLTC battery-only range of 160 kilometers and a combined range of more than 2,000 kilometers. Fuel consumption with a depleted battery is 2.82 liters per 100 kilometers, while charging from 30% to 80% takes 15 minutes.

The new model is available in 5 variants, with official starting prices of 119,900 yuan ($17,680), 129,900 yuan, 139,900 yuan, 144,900 yuan and 149,900 yuan, respectively.

SAIC Volkswagen is offering limited-time incentives for the new model, bringing prices down to 89,900 yuan ($13,260), 99,900 yuan, 109,900 yuan, 114,900 yuan and 119,900 yuan, respectively.

The ID. Era 5S is also the most affordable new-energy (NEV) model in VW’s China lineup, with similar pricing to the brand’s existing compact ICE sedans like the Bora, Lavida, and Sagitar. ts aggressive pricing also puts the 5S in competition with China’s budget NEV sedan stalwarts, including the BYD Seal 06, BYD Qin Plus, and the Geely Galaxy Starshine 6.

BYD TANG SUV

BYD debuted the third-generation Tang SUV. Positioned as an 8-series flagship in BYD's Dynasty lineup, the five-seat mid-to-large SUV is set to go on sale in the fourth quarter.

The third-generation Tang measures 5,045 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width and 1,760 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm.

The confirmed version of the Tang EV so far gets a rear electric motor rated at 300 kW, or roughly 408 hp. The model uses BYD's second-generation Blade Battery and flash charging technology, with battery pack options of 88.682 kWh and 105.792 kWh. It offers CLTC all-electric ranges of 730 km, 830 km and 850 km, depending on the configuration. 

At normal temperatures, the battery can charge from 10% to 70% in about 5 minutes and reach 97% in 9 minutes. In extremely cold conditions, charging takes about 3 minutes longer.

MG 07

SAIC Motor's MG brand officially launched the MG 07 sedan. The new model is available in seven different configurations, with official guidance prices ranging from 108,900 yuan ($16,000) to 159,900 yuan ($23,500).

MG said deliveries of the battery-electric 650 versions will begin in late August, while deliveries of the 845 versions will start in October.

The MG 07 measures 4,886 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,485 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,825 mm.

The new model features a fastback design with a liftback tailgate, 4 frameless doors and a 5-position adjustable powered rear spoiler. It also offers a 168-liter frunk and a 697-liter rear cargo compartment.

The battery-electric 845 version is built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform and uses a 91-kWh CATL (HKEX: 3750) battery pack, providing a CLTC range of 845 km and supporting 5C fast charging.

The 650 and 610 versions use 67-kWh battery packs and a 400-volt architecture, with batteries supplied by SAIC-backed Qingtao Energy.

The plug-in hybrid version is powered by a 1.5-liter hybrid-specific engine and a drive motor with a peak output of 152 kW, paired with a CATL lithium iron phosphate battery pack.

It has a CLTC battery-only range of 245 km and a combined range of 1,745 km, with fuel consumption of 2.91 liters per 100 km when the battery is depleted.

It is worth mentioning that the two models with a 610 km range use liquid-solid (semi-solid) batteries from Qingtao (as seen on MG 4 Anxin Edition), while all other models, whether pure electric or hybrid, use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from CATL.

BYD FCB Ti 9 PHEV

The Ti 9 is the flagship SUV in Fang Cheng Bao’s Ti product series, which also includes the Ti 3 BEV crossover and the Ti 7 SUV with PHEV and BEV powertrain options. The Fang Cheng Bao (FCB) is a China-only brand under the BYD umbrella. The FCB Ti 9 will start domestic sales this year. The Ti 9 boasts hefty dimensions of 5270/1999/1850 mm with a wheelbase of 3,130 mm.

The Fang Cheng Bao Ti 9 has a 1.5-liter turbocharged ICE for 115 kW (154 hp) under the hood. It is paired with two electric motors that have a combined peak power output of 400 kW (536 hp). A 66.5 kWh battery powers the system. The Ti 9 can run up to 310 km on a single charge. It also supports flash charging technology, charging from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The combined range of this SUV is 2,300 km.

HYUNDAI IONIQ V

Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai Motor's joint venture in China, opened pre-sales for the Ioniq V at the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, which kicked off on Friday, advancing the automaker's product offensive in the world's largest electric vehicle market.

The Ioniq V is the first production model from Hyundai's Ioniq brand in China and the production version of the Venus Concept unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April.

The vehicle measures 4,900 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width and 1,470 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. It features a fastback profile and frameless doors.

The Ioniq V is based on Hyundai's E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) and offers single-motor versions with maximum outputs of 140 kW and 168 kW.

Its batteries are supplied by CATL, using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, with capacities of 53.5 kWh and 66.8 kWh.

Smart features are another area where Beijing Hyundai has stepped up its focus for the Chinese market. The Ioniq V features a 27-inch 4K display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295 chip and a head-up display.

Its driver-assistance system was jointly developed by Beijing Hyundai and Momenta (HKEX: 6880), providing L2+ assisted-driving functions on highways.

The vehicle's infotainment system also integrates AI models including Baidu's Ernie Bot and ByteDance's Doubao, highlighting Hyundai's growing use of Chinese technology suppliers.

The Ioniq V is available in 3 variants, with pre-sales prices ranging from 119,900 yuan ($17,680) to 139,900 yuan, and is scheduled to officially launch in September.

The 540 Max is priced at 119,900 yuan, the 540 Max+ at 129,900 yuan, and the 650 Max+ at 139,900 yuan.

The Ioniq V is uniquely tailored for the Chinese market, with the design process fully led by the Hyundai China Design Centre. This “China-first” approach is intended to eventually export the design and concepts back to global markets.

BMW iX3

The new iX3 arrived at the Chengdu Auto Show in its most practical form for the Chinese market: the long-wheelbase 50L. Calling this a world premiere would be a stretch — the model first broke cover back in spring in Beijing. But on August 21, BMW opened orders, and its biggest selling point was range: a certified 919 km on the CLTC cycle.

China's iX3 differs noticeably from the global car. The wheelbase grew by 108 mm specifically to free up second-row space. For the Chinese version, BMW also built in local services, including Gaode navigation, Alibaba and DeepSeek technology, Huawei's HiCar, and a driver-assistance system co-developed with Momenta.

The iX3 50L xDrive produces 345 kW, or roughly 469 hp, and 645 Nm of torque. Usable battery capacity stands at 108.7 kWh. The electrical system runs on 800 volts, with peak fast-charging power reaching 400 kW: according to BMW, ten minutes at the right charger adds about 400 km of CLTC-rated range.

MERCEDES GLE L

Mercedes rolled out the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV—and its wheelbase now beats the China-built BMW X5 outright. It grew from 2995 to 3115 mm. For comparison, the China-built BMW X5 sits at 3105 mm. Yet the Mercedes is actually shorter overall: 5051 mm against the X5’s 5060 mm.

This isn’t just another facelift. The newcomer is the first big premium Mercedes-Benz SUV ever built locally in China—a move that would have sounded unthinkable for the brand’s flagship models not long ago.

The Chinese-market car measures 5051x2018x1784 mm. And here’s the interesting part: according to preliminary certification data, the GLE 350 L gets a 2.0-liter turbo M254 engine good for 258 hp, while the range-topping GLE 450 L packs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six M256 rated at 381 hp—enough to keep that extra length from becoming dead weight.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t stop at hardware. The brand is touting AI-driven infotainment features and urban and highway driving assistants, and a future update is set to bring a system built on Momenta’s R7 “world model”. At the Chengdu show itself, the GLE L got its first-ever public test drives, letting Chinese buyers feel the extra wheelbase for themselves rather than just read about it in a spec sheet.

XIAOMI SKYNOMAD

Xiaomi unveiled it back in July and has already opened orders, but Chengdu is where visitors first got a real chance to see the new flagship family SUV in person.

The model looks nothing like the sportier SU7 and YU7. Instead of a low-slung silhouette, Xiaomi went for maximum interior space. The car measures 5,285 mm in length, 1,998 mm in width and 1,825 mm in height, with a 3,080 mm wheelbase — longer than a Mercedes-Benz GLS and squarely in full-size SUV territory.

The cabin follows a 2+2+3 layout, seating seven. The second row consists of two individual seats, and the front seats can rotate 180 degrees while parked. Xiaomi fitted long floor rails, a movable center console and plenty of ways to rearrange the seats. At the Chengdu stand, the company even showed a cutaway car to demonstrate how the cabin transforms.

Four of the seats in the SkyNomad N90 Max get a "zero-gravity" mode. The equipment list includes an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.1-inch central touchscreen, a 20-inch head-up display and an infotainment system running Xiaomi HyperOS. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8650 handles the computing.

But the N90 Max isn't a pure EV. Xiaomi built it on its own Kunlun architecture with a series-hybrid setup: a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine works purely as a generator and never drives the wheels directly. Two electric motors, rated at 210 kW and 100 kW, handle propulsion. Combined, that's 310 kW, or roughly 422 horsepower.

The battery is unusually large for a hybrid. At 76 kWh, it's a capacity that full electric vehicles carried not long ago. Official electric-only range comes in at 464 km on the CLTC cycle, and combined with the gasoline generator, the N90 Max can cover up to 1,705 km. Claimed fuel consumption with a depleted battery is 6.26 L/100 km on the WLTC cycle.

Driver assistance wasn't forgotten either. The car comes with Xiaomi's proprietary HAD suite, and the N90 Max adds a rear solid-state lidar on top of that. It's meant to improve the assistance systems' view around the car, including during lane changes and parking.

The pre-sale price for the Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 Max is 299,900 yuan, roughly $44,400. Xiaomi plans to announce final pricing, the full trim lineup and delivery timing in September.

CHERY ICAR V25

At the auto show in Chengdu iCar, the new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under Chery, unveiled a new extended-range sport utility vehicle (SUV), the V25, further expanding its lineup of boxy models. 

The car’s design was first revealed on August 14 at a dedicated Vparty event in Chengdu, and now the newcomer has made it to a full-scale auto show. Launch on the Chinese market is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.

The V25 carries over the family's signature boxy design. It measures 4,636 mm long (including the external storage box), 1,920 mm wide and 1,855 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. Compared to the V23, the newcomer is roughly 42 cm longer, and the distance between the axles has grown by 85 mm.

The vehicle has a minimum ground clearance of 197 mm, giving it light off-road capability. At the rear, it has a side-opening tailgate that swings open to 88 degrees, along with an externally mounted 22.7-liter storage "backpack." The V25 also gets a factory tow hitch, rated for trailers up to 1,800 kg. Wheels come in 19- or 21-inch sizes.

The V25’s main departure from the V23 is its powertrain. While the smaller model is a pure EV, the newcomer gets a series hybrid setup. Under the hood sits a 1.5-liter Chery SQRH4J15 turbo engine producing 115 kW (156 hp), working as part of a range-extending system. The 33.679 kWh traction battery comes from CATL, and electric-only range is rated at 145 or 150 km on the WLTC cycle.

Chinese pricing and the full trim lineup are expected closer to the fourth-quarter sales launch.

The V25 is iCar's second attempt in the range-extender space. The V27, the brand's flagship model that went on sale in China on March 13 this year, was its first range-extender vehicle and remains its largest product to date.

BMW M3 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

BMW unveiled anniversary M3 and M3 Touring models in Chengdu for the 40th anniversary. BMW built two versions at once, a sedan and the M3 Touring wagon, marking 40 years since the very first M3, the E30, launched back in 1986.

Just 40 cars for the Chinese market — 20 sedans and 20 wagons. The four-door M3 costs 1.038 million yuan, while the M3 Touring runs 1.068 million yuan — roughly $145,000 and $149,000 at current exchange rates.

The sedan gives itself away instantly — Laguna Seca Blue, one of BMW M's most iconic historical colors. Black 19- and 20-inch 826M wheels and blue brake calipers finish the look.

The wagon plays a completely different card. Its body is finished in Wildberry, with wheels in a gold-bronze shade. Both versions share black-trimmed kidney grilles, darkened lighting, and special anniversary badging.

Inside sit carbon bucket seats, Merino leather in Silverstone/Black, and an M steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara. Anniversary emblems show up on the headrests, sills, and center console. The sedan gets blue stitching, the Touring gets Amethyst.

Under the hood, nothing's changed: the familiar 3.0-liter inline-six with twin turbos. In M xDrive trim it makes 530 hp and 650 Nm, paired with an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic and all-wheel drive. The standard M3 M xDrive hits 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, the M3 Touring in 3.6.

The price tag underlines the collector status too. A standard Chinese M3 M xDrive costs 913,900 yuan, and the M3 Touring 943,900 yuan. So the anniversary premium works out to roughly 124,000 yuan — about $17,300.

GAC AION RAY 7

GAC subsidiary GAC Aion unveiled the Ray 7, the first model in the brand's new Ray series. The car was officially unveiled on August 19 in Dongguan, making the Chengdu show its first major public appearance at an international motor show.

The Ray 7 is also GAC Aion's first model to feature its refreshed brand logo (the name is integrated into the front light bar and can illuminate) and is tasked with helping the brand appeal to younger consumers.

On the stand, the sedan was shown in the brand's signature Lightning Yellow with a contrasting black roof, dark multi-spoke wheels and yellow brake calipers.

The 5-seat pure electric sedan measures 4,960 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,455 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,920 mm.

The Ray 7 is built on a battery electric rear-wheel-drive platform and uses a Huawei-supplied motor with peak power of 180 kW (241 hp), along with Huawei's DriveONE integrated electric drive system. Claimed range reaches 700 km on the Chinese CLTC cycle, while rated energy consumption is just 9.7 kWh per 100 km.

Certification documents reveal two Ray 7 variants. One is fitted with lithium iron phosphate batteries from GAC Aion's own Inpai unit and has a kerb weight of 1,720 kg. The other uses CATL cells and weighs 1,855 kg. The 135 kg difference hints at batteries of different capacity or differing equipment levels, though the automaker hasn't yet published specs for the entry-level version.

GAC Aion has yet to announce pricing or a launch date for the Ray 7. The model is expected to be positioned in the 200,000 yuan ($29,500) to 250,000 yuan range, competing with the Xiaomi SU7, Zeekr 007 and Shangjie Z7.

SMART #3 DYNAMIC RACING EDITION

At the 29th Chengdu International Motor Show, smart unveiled the #3 Dynamic Racing Edition — and put it on sale immediately. It stares straight at the BRABUS version and clearly wants a piece of its territory. The official price starts at 209,900 yuan, or 194,900 yuan under the current support programme.

And this is far more than a set of bright stripes on the body. Two electric motors put out a combined 315 kW — about 428 hp — and 543 Nm. Sprinting to 62 mph takes 4.3 seconds, and the electronics can switch between rear- and all-wheel drive in just 0.4 seconds. smart also claims a 50:50 weight distribution, a 0.27 drag coefficient, and a braking distance from 62 mph of under 35 metres.

The show car’s standout feature is visible before you even open the door — a massive carbon-fibre rear wing, made using vacuum hot-forming. It’s offered as a 7,000-yuan option. The standard sport package adds a different hood, front bumper, side skirts, and other aero elements. Wheels are 20 inches.

MAZDA CX-6e (EZ-60) WITH LiDAR

Mazda has refreshed the CX-6e by adding a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, giving the midsize SUV Navigation-on-Autopilot (NOA) capabilities in both highway and urban scenarios.

Pre-sales of the refresh have opened in China, where it’s also known as the EZ-60, but final pricing is currently unannounced. The CX-6e is the second new-energy (NEV) model in Mazda’s China lineup, with the first being the 6e sedan, or the EZ-6 in China.

The refreshed SUV, which was announced at the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, is offered with pure EV and range-extended EV (EREV) powertrains.

The biggest addition here is the new roof-mounted LiDAR unit, which Mazda says gives the CX-6e advanced L2 assisted-driving capabilities, covering over 200 “assisted driving scenarios”. It’s paired with three mmWave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 11 cameras.

Mazda says the CX-6e can now handle more automated manoeuvres on the highway, approach on- and off-ramps, and access service areas with limited driver input. It can also overtake slower cars on its own with autonomous lane changes.

In urban driving, the automaker says the CX-6e’s assisted driving system can now tackle intersections and roundabouts without user input, and can perform U-turns on its own. It can also drive between parallel main and side access roads and make emergency lane changes to avoid obstacles.

Mazda says the new LiDAR-assisted system covers speeds from 0 to 130 km/h on the highway, and 0 to 80 km/h in urban scenarios. The system also lets the CX-6e perform remote, automated, and path-following parking manoeuvres.

EV trims feature a 77.94 kWh LFP pack from CALB, good for a CLTC range of 585 to 600 km. It powers a single 190 kW (255 hp) rear motor and reaches a maximum speed of 185 km/h. 3C fast charging is available, allowing a 30-80% charge in 15 minutes.

EREV trims, which place a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 72 kW (97 hp) range extender at the front, achieve the same top speed with the same 190 kW (255 hp) rear motor. A smaller 31.73 kWh LFP pack from CATL–Changan allows for 200 km of CLTC range.