Nation's role in world auto sector on show

BMW is using the expo to showcase the arrival of its Neue Klasse technology in China, with the iX3 and i3 making their CIIE debut. Both models have been developed with Chinese customers and the local digital ecosystem in mind. Deliveries of the iX3 are scheduled to begin this month, while the i3 is expected to reach customers in the first quarter of 2027.

BMW plans to introduce nearly 20 models incorporating Neue Klasse technology clusters in China in 2027.

"The Neue Klasse embarks on the new chapter of BMW's development and China plays a pivotal role in that journey," said Christian Ach, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China.

General Motors is focusing on local product development and technology partnerships to strengthen the position of its premium brand Cadillac in China.

Its XT5 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, launched in September, has become Cadillac's best-selling product in China, outperforming the brand's other new energy and internal combustion engine models, GM said.

The model is the first Cadillac built on a locally developed vehicle architecture and the first production vehicle in its segment to use the Momenta R7 World Model for driver assistance. The technology uses artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning.

Cadillac's Vistiq electric SUV also features a next-generation driver-assistance system co-developed with Momenta, reflecting the role of Chinese technology partners in the brand's local product development.

Nissan is taking the China strategy a step further by exporting vehicles developed and manufactured in the country.

The Japanese automaker has begun shipping its Frontier Pro pickup truck to overseas markets. The first exports to Latin America started in July and shipments to the Gulf region and Southeast Asia followed in September.

The Frontier Pro is the first Nissan pickup designed, developed and manufactured in China for global markets.

It began sales in Mexico in October and is scheduled to launch in the Philippines on Friday under the Navara Pro name.

Nissan plans to expand sales to other Latin American markets by the end of 2026, and to Australia and New Zealand in 2027.

The company has also begun exporting its N7 electric sedan to Southeast Asia and plans to introduce the NX8 sport utility vehicle in selected overseas markets.

Nissan's China operations are also an important part of its global parts supply chain.

The company works with more than 550 local suppliers, providing over 14,000 categories of components to Nissan plants in 11 countries and regions. Sales from its parts-export business reached $2.7 billion in 2025, according to the company.

Jaguar Land Rover is displaying seven vehicles from its Range Rover and Defender brands, highlighting their heritage and engineering capabilities.

Among them is a 1955 Land Rover Series I 4x4, which completed the first overland crossing of Eurasia. The exhibits also include the Defender Dakar Rally prototype, making its CIIE debut.

Based on the production Defender OCTA, it shares the model's D7x body architecture and 4.4-liter V8 powertrain. The engineering platform helped Defender secure a one-two finish in the Stock category on its Dakar Rally debut in 2026.

JLR said the two vehicles demonstrate more than seven decades of Defender capability, performance and proven reliability.

French tiremaker Michelin is presenting a tire made with 75 percent renewable or recycled materials, including recycled carbon black, bio-based synthetic rubber, rice-husk silica and recycled steel.

The company aims to use 100 percent renewable or recycled materials in its tires by 2050. It is also showing its Touch Intelligence technology, which uses tire physics, artificial intelligence and data algorithms to assess grip, load, wear and potential air leakage without additional sensors.

Michelin is exploring applications with Chinese automakers and technology partners, with the aim of securing its first commercial application in China.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn