Paris Motor Show 2026: around 20 Chinese brands are coming. What's worth watching and which models could reach Romania

The Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l'Auto) returns from October 12 to 18, 2026, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. October 12 is the press day, and the public is admitted from October 13 to 18. The organisers expect more than 60 manufacturers, and one of the most visible changes from 2024 is the number of Chinese brands: around 20, up from about ten two years ago.

CarNewsChina counted 20 Chinese brands on the exhibitor list: 212, Aito, BYD, Changan, Chery, Denza, Forthing, Foton, GAC, Geely, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Li Auto, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Maxus, Omoda, smart, Xpeng and Zeekr. It also talks of "seven global premieres". We checked each one against the brands' own statements, and the picture is more nuanced: only one is a true world premiere. The rest are cars already on sale in China that are appearing in front of a European audience for the first time.

The seven new arrivals, checked

Model	What it is	Status in Paris	Coming to Europe?
smart #2	electric two-seater under 3 m, Mercedes-Benz design	world premiere (confirmed by smart)	yes, designed with Europe in mind; prices not announced
Xpeng G9L	5.12 m large SUV, electric or range-extender	global launch on October 12, with European orders and pricing	yes, also assembled in Graz (Austria)
Li 6 (Li i6 in China)	electric SUV, 87.3 kWh LFP	Li Auto's European debut	sales announced for Q4 2026; countries not named
Zeekr 9X	range-extender luxury SUV, up to 897 hp	Zeekr's first Paris appearance	already launched in Europe on July 29
Lynk & Co 07 GT	plug-in hybrid estate, up to 523 hp (Chinese version)	European debut, in Chinese specification	a European version is promised later
Geely Monjaro EM-i	large plug-in hybrid SUV with all-wheel drive	first European appearance, per CarNewsChina	yes, Geely's next model for Europe (CAR Magazine)
Leapmotor D19	5.25 m SUV, electric or range-extender	European debut	no: Leapmotor says European sales are "not on the agenda"

What's worth watching

Xpeng G9L, the "Chinese" car built in Austria

This is probably the most important Chinese launch in Paris. Xpeng says the G9L will have its global launch on October 12, when it opens European orders and announces European pricing. The 5.12-metre SUV will be built both in Guangzhou and at Magna Steyr's plant in Graz, where it becomes the fourth Xpeng model assembled in Europe, after the G6, G9 and P7+. EU assembly matters for pricing: China-built EVs face additional countervailing duties, which for Xpeng are 20.7% on top of the standard 10% import duty.

Also in Paris, Xpeng says it and Tesla will be the only carmakers in the show's "Autonomous Lab". Xpeng will offer rides there with its NGP driver-assistance system in the L03, its first large-scale demonstration outside China.

Li Auto enters Europe

Li Auto, best known in China for range-extender SUVs, is coming to Europe with electric models only. The first is the i6 SUV, renamed the Li 6. The company says it will start selling it in Europe in the fourth quarter but hasn't named the first countries, prices or sales channels. It's expected to present its European strategy in Paris.

smart #2, the only true world premiere

smart is bringing back its two-seat city car, this time electric and developed with Geely. According to smart, it's under 3 metres long, with a 35.8 kWh battery using CATL cells, a target range of around 300 km WLTP and 10–80% charging in 20 minutes. The design comes from Mercedes-Benz's team. The price hasn't been announced.

Giants that come only for the image

Leapmotor is bringing the D19 SUV but told L'argus explicitly that selling it in Europe isn't on the agenda for now. Its appearance in Paris is purely about brand image. What matters more for Europe are the small, affordable models Leapmotor sells through Stellantis' network, including the new B03, which will also be in Paris according to Auto Express. We covered Leapmotor's delivery record in our article on its 105,656 cars delivered in September.

BYD, a partner of the Paris Saint-Germain football club, will also have a stand. According to Auto Express, its star should be the new Dolphin G, a small hybrid. We covered BYD's September results in our article on BYD's sales record and exports.

What reaches Romania

We checked what's already officially sold in Romania, based on the sources cited and our earlier articles:

• Xpeng has been officially sold in Romania since June 15, 2026, through AutoWallis Caetano, with the G6 (from €43,990 including VAT), G9, P7+ and X9. The G9L isn't in the Romanian lineup yet. Graz assembly and an existing importer make it a plausible candidate, though (our inference).
• Leapmotor is sold in Romania by importer AutoGreen Motor (AutoItalia group), with the T03, C10 and B10. The D19 won't come; the B03 is the one to watch.
• Zeekr lists Romania among its active European markets. We found no Romanian price or launch date for the 9X, though.
• Li Auto, Lynk & Co and Geely (Monjaro): we found no official announcements for Romania. Li Auto hasn't even named its first European countries.

What it means for drivers

• A "premiere" isn't the same as "coming to you". Many of the Chinese cars in Paris have been on sale in China for months. What matters is pricing and market announcements, not the unveiling itself.
• What to watch on October 12: the European price of the Xpeng G9L and the first countries for the Li 6. Those are the two announcements with the most concrete impact.
• CLTC range figures in Chinese press releases aren't WLTP. For the difference, see our guide to range test cycles.