PARIS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing 2026 Paris Motor Show not only features cutting-edge innovations in the auto industry, but also highlights growing opportunities for Chinese and European automakers to deepen cooperation.
The week-long event, which opened on Oct. 12, brings together around 100 exhibitors and more than 60 automotive brands. A total of 25 Chinese brands, represented by 16 automakers including BYD, XPeng, Changan, Dongfeng and Leapmotor, are taking part in the show, setting a new record for Chinese participation.
Serge Gachot, director of the Paris Motor Show, said that more Chinese automakers are placing greater emphasis on raising brand awareness while stepping up efforts to seek local partners, demonstrating a stronger commitment to the French and broader European markets.
At the Stellantis exhibition area, Chinese automaker Leapmotor showcased its vehicles alongside European brands including Citroen and Peugeot. Leapmotor unveiled its new A05 electric compact car and flagship D19 SUV, while announcing that its B10 electric SUV had entered production at the Zaragoza plant in Spain.
Developed in partnership with Stellantis and leveraging the European group's existing manufacturing infrastructure, the plant produces vehicles for the European market, marking an expansion of bilateral cooperation from sales to local manufacturing.
Francesco Giacalone, head of product and marketing for Leapmotor International, said the Chinese automaker's brands complemented those of Stellantis, helping the European group reach a broader customer base and expand its market presence.
Geely Automobile Holdings Limited made its first joint appearance at the show with its three brands: Geely, Lynk & Co and Zeekr. Nan Shengliang, vice president of Geely Auto Group and general manager of Geely Auto International Corporation, said the brand had entered 27 European countries and established more than 450 dealerships.
In July, Geely Automobile Holdings and Ford Motor Company announced an agreement to produce new energy vehicles for the European market at Ford's manufacturing plant in Valencia, Spain. The arrangement is expected to help Geely accelerate its localization efforts while improving capacity utilization and supporting local employment.
Marc Debord, head of communications at Volvo Car France, said that since Geely acquired Volvo Cars from Ford in 2010, sustained investment had helped Volvo accelerate the development of new platforms and powertrains, its transition to electrification and the expansion of its global business.
The growing presence of Chinese automakers in Europe is also creating new opportunities for local auto parts suppliers. Francois Marion, chief communications and sustainability officer at French automotive supplier Valeo, said the company's European factories could supply components to Chinese automakers' vehicle production facilities in Europe as they expand their manufacturing footprint on the continent.
Marion added that Valeo's research and development teams in China could work directly with Chinese automakers, further strengthening links between the Chinese and European automotive supply chains.
Advanced driving technologies also took center stage at the show, with demonstrations extending beyond exhibition halls to the streets of Paris. XPeng and Tesla offer public test drives during the event. XPeng's Navigation Guided Pilot system has attracted interest and drawn many sign-ups for public rides.
"The future of the automotive industry lies in software and artificial intelligence," said Thomas Rodier, head of marketing and communications at XPeng France. Chinese automakers' technological capabilities in these fields could also help European manufacturers accelerate their transformation, he added.
In Gachot's view, Chinese and European automakers have broad prospects for cooperation. He encouraged Chinese companies to invest in local production, research and development and supply chains.
Such investments would bring Chinese automakers more directly into Europe's automotive ecosystem, strengthening competition while creating further opportunities for cooperation, he said. ■