Paris Motor Show opens Monday as Chinese carmakers apply pressure

The 91st Paris Motor Show will take place from 12 October to 18 October 2026, Euronews reported. European carmakers are facing mounting geopolitical pressures and stiff competition from Chinese companies, Euronews, Reuters, Forbes, and BigGo Finance all report. BigGo Finance noted that a record number of 20 Chinese brands will be present at the event. [1][2][3][4]

Automotive News reported that Chinese brands have doubled their presence at the Paris show compared to previous years. Individual manufacturers are preparing major unveils, with autoevolution reporting that Omoda Jaecoo will reveal its Omoda 4 compact vehicle. Motor1.com reported that Geely will make the European debut of its Monjaro EM-i model at the event. [5][6][7]

Around 100 new vehicle models will be displayed at the show, according to Euronews. Serge Gachot, the chief executive officer of the Paris Motor Show, told Euronews that visitors need to see, touch, and sit in cars to try them out, which he noted is particularly important for electric vehicles. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association stated that fully electric cars made up 21.7% of all new car registrations in the European Union during the first eight months of the year, Euronews reported. [1]

First launched in 1898 at the Tuileries Gardens in Paris, the event moved to its current location at Paris expo Porte de Versailles in 1962. It transitioned to a biennial schedule in 1976. The show serves as a major international platform for car companies to reveal production models and concept cars. [1][8][11]