Paris Motor Show 2026: Chinese brands make up a third of participating carmakers

The 2026 Paris Motor Show opens on 12 October, bringing together 100 exhibitors in France, including around 60 carmakers. Held every two years, it is one of Europe’s major motor shows.

A record 20 Chinese car brands will be exhibiting this year, making up around a third of all participating carmakers. Their growing presence reflects the efforts of Chinese automakers to expand beyond their home market.

Several Chinese brands have already established themselves in Europe. BYD, Geely, Chery, Jetour and Leapmotor are among those that have built a presence in the market and won over local buyers.

Chinese-made cars now account for more than 10% of new-car sales in Europe. This year's show will also see more Chinese brands, including Li Auto, Aito and GAC Aion, announce plans to enter the European market.

European carmakers will also use the show to put their latest models in the spotlight, with several new launches planned.

Among the production models due to appear are the Audi A2 e-tron, Skoda Peaq, Dacia Striker and Fiat Grizzly. Renault E-Space and Citroën 2CV concept cars will also be on display, signalling that European brands have plenty of new products in the pipeline for the coming years.

BMW, however, will be absent from this year's show. The German carmaker has several major new models on the way, including the latest 3 Series, iX4 and X5, but has chosen not to take part in one of Europe's biggest automotive events.