2026 Beijing Auto Show: New Face Dreame Joins, Old Familiar Shenlong Returns

The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition will be held from April 24 to May 3. For the first time, it will be held in a coordinated manner between the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Branch) and the Capital International Convention Center. The total exhibition area will reach 380,000 square meters, featuring 1,451 vehicles on display, including 181 global debut models and 71 concept cars. The overall scale exceeds any previous automotive exhibition worldwide.

Compared to previous editions, the highlights of this year’s exhibition are as follows: First, Dreame will make its debut with an independent booth; second, Peugeot and Citroën—brands that have been absent from major auto shows for several years—will return to the exhibition floor, along with Hyundai and Lotus, both of which missed last year’s Guangzhou Auto Show. Moreover, the “dual-hall synergy” initiative not only expands the exhibition space but also, for the first time, places manufacturers and component suppliers in the same hall for concurrent exhibitions.

"Newcomer" Dyson joins

Dreame Technology appeared on the list of exhibitors at the Beijing Auto Show, drawing considerable attention.

This company, which started with smart cleaning products such as vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuums, and floor washers, officially announced its entry into the automotive manufacturing sector in August 2025, and made its debut at an auto show less than a year after the announcement.

However, Dreame is not entering the market empty-handed. According to previously disclosed information, Dreame has planned three SUV models—named the Interstellar T08, Interstellar T08L, and Interstellar D09—which will be showcased at this year’s auto show under the special “Starry Sky Initiative” exhibition booth.

Image source: Dreaming of the Starry Sky Project

Even Trifo's founder and CEO Hao Yu has made rather confident statements on social media, saying that the company's future cars will also use Hesai's LiDAR, and that they aim to be the number one in the industry.

In today's landscape, where new EV entrants have already undergone multiple rounds of market elimination, the entry of a new brand is hardly news. However, what sets ZDRAI apart is its cross-industry approach, which differs from that of previous newcomers.

In recent years, cross-industry ventures into automobile manufacturing—by companies originally in real estate, the internet, mobile phones, and home appliances—have become increasingly common. However, most such initiatives have either remained at the conceptual stage or failed during mass production. Dreame chose to enter the automotive industry at the most intensely competitive and price-war-ridden moment, drawing its confidence primarily from its existing expertise in motors, intelligent algorithms, and supply chain management.

Image source: Dreame Starry Sky Project

High-speed brushless motors and visual navigation technologies used in home appliances do share certain technical commonalities with the drive systems and environmental perception technologies in intelligent vehicles. However, the difficulty of technology transfer from home appliances to automotive applications, the scale of required investment, and the establishment of after-sales service systems are not comparable in magnitude.

Whether Dreame can truly complete the entire journey from “showroom” to “delivery” may not yet be evident at this year’s auto show, but it at least offers a window for observation: as supply chain maturity continuously lowers the barriers to car manufacturing, who will be qualified to play the game in the next decade?

II. Return of the Legal System: What Does It Bring After a Three-Year Absence?

What drew more attention than the new faces was the return of old acquaintances. After being absent from several major auto shows, Peugeot and Citroen reappeared at this Beijing Auto Show.

In the past few years, these two French brands under the Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Company have been in a slump, with poor sales and a lack of new products. Their absence from A-level auto shows has generally been interpreted as having "nothing to say and no cars to launch."

And for this return, Peugeot plans to launch a brand rejuvenation strategy and unveil several globally premiering intelligent electric concept cars; in addition to the recently revamped and launched C5 X, Dongfeng Citroën will also introduce a significant new model with a futuristic positioning.

Image source: Dongfeng Citroën

Also returning almost simultaneously is Hyundai Motor. At last year’s Guangzhou Auto Show, Hyundai and Beijing Hyundai did not set up exhibition booths; however, at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, they not only made a comeback but also sent a clear signal: their electrified brand IONIQ (pronounced “E-Ni-Q”) has officially entered the Chinese market.

This is seen by the outside world as the beginning of Hyundai's counterattack in China. In addition, Lotus sports cars have returned to Beijing after being absent from the Guangzhou Auto Show.

The return of these brands is no coincidence; behind them lies a common logic: joint-venture brands are undergoing a painful strategic adjustment, with the direction of this adjustment being “re-customization for the Chinese market.”

In the past, French and Korean brands often introduced global models directly into China, which frequently resulted in poor market fit. This time, however, Peugeot and Citroën have clearly tailored their new vehicles’ design and intelligent features to align with Chinese consumers’ preferences. Meanwhile, Hyundai’s IONIQ is directly targeting China’s most competitive all-electric segment.

Whether this "humble" approach can lead to a rebound in sales remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in China, the world's largest and most competitive car market, no mainstream brand would choose to truly leave. Absence is only a temporary silence; a return signifies that new cards are ready to be played.

Third, Twin Hall Cooperation: Suppliers and are "crowded" together.

For the first time, this Beijing Auto Show adopted two exhibition halls simultaneously, resulting in a total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters, a historical high. However, what is more interesting is that the logic behind the layout of the exhibition booths has undergone a fundamental change.

In past major domestic auto shows, brands typically occupied the central pavilions, while parts suppliers were placed in relatively remote, separate areas, requiring visitors to make a special trip to see them. However, the 2026 Beijing Auto Show broke this convention by integrating brands and suppliers into the same pavilion.

Looking specifically, the leading power battery company CATL is scheduled in Hall W4, along with luxury brands such as BMW, Porsche, and Lotus. Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Driving has an independent exhibition booth, while Huawei Qiankun and Huawei Digital Energy occupy prominent positions in Hall W3. Autonomous driving company Qingzhou Intelligent Driving is located in Hall A1, opposite Geely. Momenta is in Hall B4, facing Zhiyuan, Volvo, and Jianghuai Group.

Image source: Beijing Auto Show

Byd showcased its four brands---Byd, Denza,, and Fangchengbao---in its own "special exhibition hall" E3, and also set up an independent display area for the "Tian Shen Zhi Yan" fast charging technology. Chery Group occupied the E1 hall, but in the same exhibition hall, three suppliers---Huazhi Intelligent, Youjia Innovation, and Zhongke Tech---also had their own spaces.

This physical integration sends a clear signal: core technology suppliers are moving from behind the scenes to the forefront and are beginning to have their own independent brand appeal.

In the past, consumers primarily focused on the car brand when purchasing a vehicle, while the suppliers were considered unimportant. Today, however, the situation has changed. Some consumers prioritize vehicles equipped with Huawei’s intelligent driving system, and place greater trust in vehicles powered by batteries from CATL. Suppliers’ technological capabilities are now directly influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions.

Automakers have clearly recognized this—BYD has set up a dedicated booth specifically for a charging technology, indicating they believe the technology itself is now capable of independently attracting attention without being tied to a complete vehicle.

The dual-venue collaboration also carries another meaning: the Beijing Auto Show is strengthening its role as an industrial chain cooperation platform. This year’s exhibition has attracted supply chain and technology enterprises from 21 countries and regions, covering fields such as semiconductors, intelligent driving, batteries, and software. Concurrently, multiple procurement matchmaking events and technical forums will also be held during the exhibition.

This means that the Beijing Auto Show is no longer just a "car viewing event" for the general public; it is also a B2B business platform for the global automotive industry.

From the debut of Dreame to the collective return of French and Korean brands, and then to the co-exhibition of vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, the 2026 Beijing Auto Show points to an ongoing reality: the boundaries of the automotive industry are blurring, the number of participants is increasing, and the forces that determine the market landscape are shifting.