Tesla Dominates Popularity at 2020 Beijing Motor Show... Eco-Friendly Cars Gain Momentum

Tesla showroom without new cars draws lines for entry... Feeling the popularity
Hyundai displays popular Palisade in Korea... Sales to start by year-end

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The '2020 Beijing Motor Show,' which was postponed due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), began its press day on the 26th and will run until October 5th.

Excitement for the first international motor show held this year caused a bustling crowd from the entrance of the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) exhibition hall on the 28th.

Under the theme of 'smart vehicle for the future,' global automakers attracted visitors by showcasing cutting-edge cars integrated with IT technology.

In particular, targeting the rapidly growing Chinese eco-friendly vehicle market, global automakers exhibited a large number of their strategic models. Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were displayed alongside eco-friendly cars, reflecting the popularity of SUVs within China.

The China '2020 Beijing Motor Show,' which was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, will be held at the China Beijing International Exhibition Center until October 5.

Additionally, leisure models such as vans aimed at Chinese consumers with increased income levels also took a place.

A total of 785 vehicles were exhibited at this Beijing Motor Show, of which 82 models were unveiled to the world for the first time.

As the Chinese automobile market, which had plummeted after the global COVID-19 pandemic, has revived, global automakers appear to have competed to showcase new cars and more at the Beijing Motor Show.

◆ The most popular exhibition hall is the American Tesla = Among the 785 vehicles displayed at this motor show, 120, or 20%, were electric vehicles and other eco-friendly cars.

The Tesla exhibition hall attracted the largest number of visitors. Even though Tesla displayed only existing models without any new cars, the hall was so crowded that visitors had to line up to enter. Once inside, visitors had to wait a long time to see the interiors of the cars due to the large crowd.

Visitor Jang Guoqing, who was waiting in line in front of the Tesla exhibition hall, said, "I am very interested in Tesla electric vehicles," adding, "If only the price issue is resolved, I definitely want to own a Tesla electric car."

The '2020 Beijing Motor Show' in China, which was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, is being held at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing until October 5. Many visitors flocked to the Tesla exhibition hall, an American electric vehicle company.

Not only Tesla, but German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen also prominently featured eco-friendly vehicles. BYD, a leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, showcased a large number of new electric cars, demonstrating its technological prowess.

The Chinese market for electric and other eco-friendly vehicles is growing rapidly every year. Of the 1,703,000 new cars sold in China in August alone, 100,000 (82,500 electric vehicles and 17,500 hybrids) were eco-friendly vehicles.

◆ Large numbers of leisure vehicles such as SUVs also exhibited = Mercedes-Benz set up a separate exhibition hall at this motor show to display leisure vans, targeting Chinese consumers with higher income levels.

Mercedes-Benz exhibited only luxury vans similar in size to the 7-8 passenger Kia Carnival. The interior design, enhanced with Mercedes-Benz's characteristic luxury, was enough to captivate Chinese visitors.

Kia also unveiled the new Carnival at this motor show and plans to enter the Chinese market from the second half of next year.

The '2020 Beijing Motor Show' in China, which was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, will be held at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing until October 5. Visitors are examining the large SUV Palisade exhibited by Hyundai Motor Company.

Hyundai Motor Company displayed the large SUV Palisade and plans to start sales by the end of this year. The vehicles produced in Korea, not locally in China, will be introduced to target the Chinese SUV market.

◆ Expectations for the Chinese car market remain strong = Despite it being Monday, most visitors to the China International Exhibition Center were young people in their 20s and 30s.

Born in the Xiaokang (a moderately prosperous society where all people live comfortably and abundantly) era and raised without economic hardships, these individuals represent China's new automobile consumer base. Famous brand exhibition halls were continuously filled with them. It is easy to understand what their 'dream cars' are.

Global automakers' investment plans targeting this group are also emerging one after another.

The China '2020 Beijing Motor Show,' which was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, will be held at the China Beijing International Exhibition Center until October 5. Kia Motors exhibited the China-specific 'All New K5.'

The Chinese state-run Global Times quoted Tao Lin, Vice President of Tesla China, reporting that the model (Y) produced in China will be launched in the first quarter of next year. It also stated that Tesla plans to recruit software and hardware talent in China, indicating that global automakers' investments in the Chinese automobile market will continue.

The joint venture between Volvo and Geely announced plans for mass production of electric vehicles, and Audi is collaborating with Huawei to develop autonomous vehicles.

As the Chinese government focuses on developing and selling electric and other eco-friendly vehicles to shed its reputation as the world's largest carbon emitter, global automakers' product portfolios inevitably tilt toward eco-friendly vehicles.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.