Under the spotlight of the Paris Motor Show, the competitive landscape of the global auto industry is changing. At the 2026 Paris show, 16 Chinese automakers with more than 20 brands took the stage with products and technology, while BMW, Porsche and Nissan were among those absent. François Roudier, secretary general of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, said the large Chinese participation revitalized the exhibition.
Two years ago, at the 2024 Paris show, Chinese automakers appeared merely as "visitors." Two years on, they have become one of the show's protagonists — a shift from follower to a competitive force the European industry must reckon with, and a microcosm of how NEVs are reshaping the global auto competitive order.
In the fuel-vehicle era, core technologies such as engines and transmissions were long held by European and American makers, who also set the standards, evaluation systems and pricing logic. In the NEV era that rulebook has changed: in the electrification and intelligence track, China has formed a complete industrial cluster spanning batteries, vehicle electronic control, smart cockpits and high-level assisted driving, with system-level capability from R&D and manufacturing to rapid iteration.
But the traffic of a show is not the victory of a market. Localized manufacturing, supply-chain layout, after-sales networks, parts warehousing, used-car residual-value management and compliance systems are long-term, high-investment engineering. Europe's regulatory environment and consumer habits differ from China's, with battery passports, carbon-footprint requirements, data compliance and local labor law all raising the bar.
Chinese automakers are switching from "selling cars out" to "operating locally." Changan plans European capacity of 180,000 units by 2028, and BYD's Hungarian plant is advancing production preparation. A show can build momentum quickly, but long-term rootedness is another matter entirely.
Source: Sina Finance / The Beijing News
