PEAKING? Biggest ever car show, but is it better? Beijing EV walkaround & what's headed here...

TL;DR

Auto Beijing 2025 is the world's largest motor show at 380,000 sqm, dominated by giant luxury SUVs, EV2L aircraft, and Chinese tech like Huawei and CATL reshaping global auto.

Key Points

• 1.CATL dominates China's EV market with 50% battery share and major innovations. Four 2025 breakthroughs include 350 Wh/kg solid-state cells, sodium-ion batteries entering mass production in Q4, the Shenxing battery offering 1,200–1,400 km range, and a V2G battery-swap network targeting 100,000 stations by 2028.
• 2.Huawei's ADS self-driving stack has become essential for every automaker in China. Partners now include GAC (Easter GT7), SAIC/MG (Z7T, ~$40–50k), Chery's new Freelander concept, plus legacy brands Audi and Nissan integrating Huawei tech just to stay competitive.
• 3.The show's dominant trend is oversized three-row luxury SUVs following the Li Auto model. BYD's Great Tang (5.3m, 950 km CLTC, 130 kWh, fridge, ceiling screen), Xpang GX (5.2–5.3m, 3,000 TOPS compute, steer-by-wire), Great Wall V9X (1,700 km combined range, 31 speakers), and Leap Motor D19 ($32k with 80.3 kWh hybrid battery all chase the same market.
• 4.EV2L (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft are a breakout theme signalling China's next decade. Xpang's 'Land Aircraft Carrier' MPV carries a foldable flying drone; NIO showed an Aidge drone cockpit in carbon fibre; Autoflight (CATL subsidiary) uses 500 Wh/kg batteries for rescue eVTOLs; Inflink displayed a 20-fan aircraft with 600 km range and 360 km/h top speed.
• 5.VW's fastest-ever China launch used Xpang's platform and software to produce a genuinely competitive EV. The production car, priced at 229,000 RMB, runs 800V architecture, XPeng ADAS with 1,500 TOPS, Brembo brakes, and was developed in just two years — VW's clearest sign of a China-market turnaround.
• 6.Leap Motor stood out for value density across three very different models. The Lafer 5 Ultra adds sporty body kit and ~240 hp for ~150,000 RMB; the A10 offers self-driving for ~80,000 RMB (~$12–13k); the D19 hybrid SUV delivers a 3.1m wheelbase, 28 sensors, and 23 speakers for ~219,000 RMB (~$32k).
• 7.Chery's iCar V27 and the revived Beijing 212 highlight retro-modern design as a winning formula. The V27 hybrid SUV builds on the cult V23's chunky aesthetic (~$15k range); the Beijing 212, a genuine military Jeep brand active for 60+ years, returns with hybrid tech and authentic retro styling targeting overseas markets.
• 8.BYD revealed the Denza Z Spider sports car and showcased flash-charging technology at the show. The Z Spider features a retractable hard top, expected tri/dual/single-motor options up to ~1,000 hp, and BYD staged a live -30°C freezer demonstration of flash charging on the Z9 GT to prove cold-weather capability.
• 9.Several cars shown are realistically headed to export markets, while others remain China-only. GAC's N60 ($16–18k, 11.5 kWh/100km efficiency) targets Australia; Jetta X (~$13–14k full EV) is currently domestic-only; the Loncin Curve 10 Plus (912 hp, 816 km range, 10–70% charge in 5 min, 209,000 RMB) directly undercuts the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra on price.