Beijing Auto Show 2024 Highlights Part 1: the foreign brands

Toyota bZ3X

Arriving in Beijing for what is my first time in China in 5 years, the most striking feat is of course how different the cars are in the street. At Chinese speed, 5 years are actually equivalent to maybe 10-15 years in the rest of the world. So I needed a refresh badly, even though I thankfully recognised pretty much all the cars around. We will cover the Beijing car landscape in a separate post so stay tuned. For now, we focus on why I’m here in the first place: the Beijing Auto Show. Our first update features the foreign manufacturers that made an impact at the Show.

1. Toyota

For reference Toyota retail sales are down -17.1% in March. Relegated to a tiny showroom in a corner, the Japanese manufacturer nevertheless satisfies with its offering. On top of the exiting bZ4X crossover and the China-exclusive bZ3 sedan, it introduced two new EVs at the Show: the bZ3X crossover and the bZ4C fastback sedan. The models keep a nice family air. Plus it launched the new generation Prado which was the first time I could check it out. It is day and night compared to the ages-old outgoing model, with a touch screen much larger than previous Toyotas, keeping in mind the brand used to be quite conservative in this domain.

2. Honda

Equally impressive is Honda, which launched its new Ye family of EVs developed specifically for the Chinese market. Honda sales are down -34.4% in March. The Ye family included the S7 and P7 crossovers and a GT sedan concept. It’s a great effort but the models look rather mundane.

3. Smart

Smart, which is now a joint-venture between Marcedes and Geely, unveiled the #5 concept at the Show, which is already its third model after the #1 and #3. Only just over a year after its launch in the country,   Smart is struggling already with retail sales down -72.1% year-on-year in March. The #5 could hopefully be a game changer for the brand and it certainly looks the part, banking on the production version being quite close to the concept. The #5 will launch in China in late 2024 and in Europe at the start of 2025.

4. Mazda

Mazda was the only foreign manufacturer in positive in March, with retail sales up 37.7% year-on-year. Surprisingly, this was achieved without any EV in the range. The Japanese carmaker is changing that unenviable position at the Show as it forges a late foray into the EV market with the EZ-6 sedan.

5. Audi

Audi retail sales are down a measured -10.9% year-on-year in March. It presented the elongated Q6 e-Tron and SQ6 e-Tron at the Show, with production starting at Audi’s new Changchun EV factory.

6. Mercedes

Released as a concept car back in September 2021 at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, the long-awaited Mercedes G-Class Electric made its World Debut at the Beijing Auto Show. However there was no real frenzy at the Mercedes stand.

7. Mini

Cramped in a small space next to the BMW stand, Mini presented the all-new Aceman small EV crossover. The interior isn’t ground breaking and conforms to the brand’s tradition with a round central console.

8. Ford

Ford had a sizeable stand decked out for the Chinese release of the locally produced Bronco. Checking it for the first time, the Bronco impressed with a rugged interior and a large touch screen. The brand also presented the Mustang Coupe Performance Edition and the redesigned Mustang convertible.

9. Chevrolet

Chevrolet had a noticeable twist on its brand name at the show, highlighting the EV in the brand’s name. It could only muster a new PHEV variant of the Equinox, called the Equinox Plus.

Stay tuned for our review of the most impressive Chinese brands at the Auto Show!