IT·Science News

Beijing auto show: six-minute batteries and flying cars as Chinese brands push abroad

The Beijing auto show opened to media on Friday 24 April with more than 1,450 vehicles on display, including 181 global debuts, the Associated Press reported in a story run by Arab News. China EV site CnEVPost put the total at 1,451 vehicles and 71 concept cars, across a record 380,000 square metres at two venues; the show runs into early May.

Batteries led the headlines. AP said BYD showed a new generation of its Blade battery that can nearly fully charge in nine minutes and demonstrated charging at minus 30°C, while CATL unveiled a Shenxing battery that charges from 10% to 98% in about six and a half minutes. XPeng’s chief executive described a system that can spot a drowsy or unwell driver, pull over and alert emergency services. Volkswagen showed the ID. Unyx 09 sedan, built with XPeng.

“China has become one of the fastest-moving markets for deploying and iterating new vehicle technologies.” — Chris Liu, Omdia, via Arab News

How each outlet framed it

• Arab News (AP) — the business backdrop: passenger car sales in China fell 23% year on year in January–March while exports rose 63% to almost 2 million; an AlixPartners analyst called a comeback for foreign brands “not realistic”.
• CnEVPost — the scale: exhibitors from 21 countries and regions, and Tesla apparently absent again.
• The Nation — the premium race: BYD’s 1,000-hp Denza Z and Formula X supercar, XPeng’s “Land Aircraft Carrier” flying car due in 2027, and Hyundai’s China-only Ioniq V.

Where the numbers differ: AP says BYD’s battery nearly fully charges in nine minutes; The Nation reports full charges in about 12 minutes below minus 30°C.