Day four of the 2026 Chengdu Motor Show kept the reveals coming, with electrified vehicles accounting for the bulk of the headlines. BYD, Great Wall, Dongfeng, SAIC-Volkswagen and Geely all had fresh metal on stage, while August market data showed China’s NEV penetration climbing to a fresh record and exports staying above one million units for a second straight month. Below are the key stories from August 25.
1. BYD Tang III makes its global debut as a big-five-seat flagship SUV
BYD used its Chengdu stand to reveal the third-generation Tang, now repositioned as a premium five-seat SUV rather than the previous seven-seater. At 5,045 mm long with a 2,950 mm wheelbase, the Tang III pairs a closed-grille front end with a continuous dash that adds a slim secondary display above the central touchscreen. The China-market launch version uses BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and offers up to 850 km of CLTC range, plus standard flash-charging compatibility. BYD says the model will go on sale in China in Q4 2026. The overseas Tang currently on sale in some markets has a different battery size, seating layout and trim structure, so cross-border buyers should treat this as a distinct China-market variant for now.
2. Fangchengbao Tai 9 lands as a six-seat PHEV flagship with 2,300 km combined range
Fangchengbao, BYD’s off-road-focused brand, showed the Tai 9, its new full-size six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV. Measuring 5,270 mm long and 3,130 mm in wheelbase, the PHEV uses BYD’s sixth-generation DM system: a 1.5T engine plus front and rear motors producing a combined 400 kW. The 310 km WLTC electric range and 2,300 km combined figure are among the highest in the segment. Standard equipment includes rear-wheel steering and the Yunzhi-P Ultra intelligent hydraulic suspension. Pricing is expected to sit between RMB 230,000 and RMB 400,000 (approximately $32,200–$56,000 USD). No overseas variant has been announced yet.
3. BAIC BJ40 EREV Black Warrior brings a darkened look to the Chengdu show
Beijing Auto displayed the BJ40 EREV “Black Warrior” edition, a range-extended electric off-roader wrapped in a fully blacked-out grille, trim, wheels and badging. The powertrain keeps the existing 1.5T range extender and dual-motor setup, with system output of 391 kW. CLTC electric range is offered in 201 km and 252 km variants, and combined range reaches 1,300 km. The SUV also carries Yuanjing intelligent driving assistance with highway NOA and automated parking. This is the China-market version; a global launch has not been confirmed.
4. Volkswagen ID.AURA T6 previews SAIC-VW’s electric mid-size SUV push
SAIC-Volkswagen revealed the ID.AURA T6, a five-seat electric mid-size SUV that will enter pre-sales soon. Buyers can choose between 540 km and 660 km CLTC range variants. The cabin centers on a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, a 25.8-inch AR-HUD and a 4 nm cockpit chip with a dedicated AI agent module. Other highlights include an 18-speaker Dolby Atmos system, a massaging passenger seat and Volkswagen’s Horizon-robotics co-developed ADAS with highway and urban pilot assist. Volkswagen’s global ID lineup uses different battery packs and trim names, so the China-market version detailed here may not match cars sold elsewhere.
5. Jetta M6 becomes the brand’s first battery-electric model
Jetta, the Volkswagen Group value brand in China, unveiled its first EV, the M6. Built on the Jiesi architecture, the sedan measures 4,806 × 1,895 × 1,500 mm with a 2,820 mm wheelboard. Two front-motor options are offered: 113 kW or 145 kW, paired with a CALB-supplied battery. The M6 also gets Volkswagen and Horizon Robotics’ co-developed vision-based ADAS. Sales are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The Jetta brand is primarily China-focused, and no overseas launch plan has been disclosed.
6. Geely Boyue L i-HEV LiDAR edition brings assisted driving to a mass-market hybrid
Geely displayed a LiDAR-equipped Boyue L i-HEV at Chengdu, combining the Qianli Haohan H5 assisted-driving suite with a 1.5TD self-charging hybrid. The setup supports both urban and highway navigation-assisted driving, features that were still reserved for cars above RMB 200,000 just a year ago. Because it is a conventional full hybrid rather than a plug-in, the Boyue L i-HEV targets buyers who want lower fuel consumption and ADAS convenience without needing home charging. This is the China-market variant; Geely exports other electrified SUVs under different nameplates.
7. Great Wall H10 locks in 31,826 orders within 24 hours of its Chengdu spotlight
Great Wall’s new flagship “square-box” SUV, the H10, was already on sale before Chengdu, but its auto-show push added fresh momentum: the company reported 31,826 firm orders in the first 24 hours of the promotion. Priced from RMB 201,800 to RMB 223,800 after launch subsidies (approximately $28,200–$31,300 USD), the H10 measures 5,138–5,299 mm long with a 3,000 mm wheelbase and is offered in five- and six-seat layouts. A 1.5T Hi4 plug-in hybrid system delivers 440 kW combined, 4.9-second 0–100 km/h acceleration and up to 232 km of CLTC electric range. Standard LiDAR and Coffee Pilot 3 assisted driving are included across the range.
8. M-Hero X700 global debut marks Dongfeng’s push into family-oriented smart off-roading
Dongfeng’s M-Hero brand used Chengdu to unveil the X700, the first model in its new X series. The 5,035 mm long SUV is built on an 800 V plug-in hybrid platform with a 68.1 kWh CATL battery, a 150 mm dual-chamber air suspension and 2.5-tonne towing capacity. It rides on a unibody chassis with 328.8 mm of ground clearance, 37.5° approach and 38.3° departure angles. Huawei’s Qian Kun full-stack intelligent package provides ADS 5 assisted driving, HarmonyOS 6 cockpit and roof-mounted LiDAR. Pricing is expected to land between RMB 200,000 and RMB 280,000 (approximately $28,000–$39,200 USD).
9. BYD Da Han EV opens pre-orders with 1,008 km CLTC range
BYD’s Dynasty network began pre-sales of the Da Han EV, a D+ segment electric sedan priced at RMB 249,900–RMB 299,900 (approximately $35,000–$42,000 USD). At 5,256 mm long with a 3,130 mm wheelbase, the sedan offers a 1,008 km CLTC range from a 102.3 kWh second-generation Blade Battery. Flash charging adds 10–70% in five minutes and 10–97% in nine minutes in normal temperatures. Standard features include rear-wheel steering, a 4.95 m turning radius, Yunzhi-A dual-chamber air suspension and BYD’s DiPilot B/5.0 assisted-driving system. The model is China-only for now.
10. IM Motors previews NEXT 2028 strategy; refreshed LS6 due in September
IM Motors outlined its “NEXT 2028” roadmap at Chengdu, promising a new NEO tri-electric architecture, a fully wire-controlled chassis and an IM Claw in-car agent. The brand also confirmed that a refreshed LS6 will debut in September. The current LS6 line spans BEV and EREV variants from RMB 224,900 to RMB 284,900 (approximately $31,500–$39,900 USD), with CLTC electric ranges from 370 km to 802 km depending on the battery. The September update is expected to bring the new architecture and chassis technology to the production line first.
Market context: record NEV share and another million-unit export month
August passenger-car retail is forecast at 1.58 million units, of which 1.04 million would be new-energy vehicles, equal to a 65.8% penetration rate, according to CPCA data cited on August 25. For the first seven months of 2026, China exported 6.41 million vehicles, up 54% year on year, while NEV exports reached 2.96 million units, up 72%, per industry figures. Separately, a recall covering more than four million vehicles from nine brands was announced for interior emergency-handle issues, with Tesla accounting for nearly three million of the affected units.
Show-floor follow-ups
- MG 07: officially launched at Chengdu on August 24 with prices of RMB 108,900–RMB 159,900 (approximately $15,200–$22,400 USD). Covered in detail in our August 24 edition; no new pricing changes today.
- BMW iX3: Chengdu pre-orders opened at RMB 269,900 (approximately $37,800 USD). Covered in our August 24 edition; today’s news confirms the formal pre-sale window.
- SAIC-Volkswagen ID.ERA 5S: officially listed at RMB 89,900 (approximately $12,600 USD) after launch subsidies, following the under-$13,000 preview reported in our August 21 edition.
- Xiaomi Pengcheng N70/N90: no new developments today beyond the Chengdu debut covered in our August 22 edition.
- Chery Fengyun T7: due to launch on August 26 with a pre-sale entry price of RMB 109,900 (approximately $15,400 USD); will be covered if pricing is confirmed tomorrow.
Image credits
- BYD Tang III / Da Han EV / IM LS6 / GWM H10 / M-Hero X700: manufacturer official / show-floor photos via 163.com and iFeng.
- Fangchengbao Tai 9, Geely Boyue L i-HEV, Jetta M6, Volkswagen ID.AURA T6, BAIC BJ40 EREV: images from 163.com’s Chengdu show gallery — vehicle photos supplied by the respective brands.
Sources
- 163.com — Chengdu Motor Show first-look roundup: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L56266K40553TEQM.html
- 163.com / Pacific Auto — Great Wall H10 pricing and orders: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L4T3ST0205279745.html
- PCauto — M-Hero X700 debut and specifications: https://hj.pcauto.com.cn/article/3501622.html
- Phoenix Tech / i.ifeng.com — BYD Da Han EV pre-sale: https://i.ifeng.com/c/8vqcA9tCsFe
- Economic Information Daily — BYD Da Han EV: https://auto.ce.cn/auto/gundong/202608/t20260824_3166794.shtml
- Yiche / Autohome — IM LS6 configuration and pricing references: https://car.m.yiche.com/zhijils6/peizhi/
- CPCA / industry data via QQ News — August market forecast and export figures: https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20260825A022OI00
