The upcoming Auto China, an event better known as the Beijing Motor Show, promises to represent one of the most important events in the sector given that it is the first to take place without Covid restrictions since 2019. And given above all that it will involve - according to what was communicated by the organizers - as many as 600 exhibitors.
A boom in memberships (in absolute contrast to what happens in the Western world) which forced the exhibition venues to be split in two.
From April 25th to May 4th the Show will be hosted by the traditional China International Exhibition Center (Ciec) located in Jinganzhuang and by the New China International Exhibition Center (Nciec) in Tianzhu, Beijing.
As the Chinese specialized media underline, the 2024 Beijing Motor Show will be the first opportunity in 5 years for many professionals and especially for the public to appreciate the drastic change that has occurred in the automotive industry in the largest market in the world.
An evolution that will be tangible in the cars on display not only in terms of design and look compared to Auto China 2019, but also for the completely different 'weight' - mainly in the electric models - that today companies of the caliber of Saic, Byd, Geely, Nio and Omodo have on the global automotive scene.
Manufacturers, these and many others - such as Leapmotor, which sees Stellantis in first place in its shareholder base - who have invested in research and development, achieving notable progress in technology, safety, performance and of course in respect for the environment.
The Beijing Motor Show will then represent the ideal stage for Chinese car manufacturers to showcase their development capabilities for self-driving vehicles.
Companies like Baidu and Pony.ai are at the forefront of this space.
They have already conducted extensive testing and driven autonomous vehicles on public roads in China.
And now it will be the public - through the presence of 'driverless' models at the Show - that will decide whether this type of car, which is certainly more expensive, will have commercial development.
Or whether the 'extreme' level Adas systems will only serve to make traditional cars more comfortable and safe.
In addition to the numerous Chinese automotive manufacturers, major international brands will also be present at the Beijing Motor Show, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining or improving their positions in the most important world market.
We remind you that in China there are numerous jvs between local groups and Western companies, with a growing importance of local production also of models sold in Europe and the USA, such as the new Mini Aceman.
Although the organizers have not yet released the final list of exhibitors, visitors will be able to admire a vast range of models from luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, but also from more 'popular' brands such as Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford.
In the foreground, evidently, the presence in the two venues of the show of automotive suppliers - from small to large, including Bosch - and technology companies to show their latest innovations.
There will be no shortage of companies specializing in battery technology, charging infrastructure, connectivity solutions and artificial intelligence.
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