"It delivers 1,000 horsepower, does zero to 62 mph in under 2 seconds, and is the world's first 'smart electric supercar.'"
General manager Li Hui, who leads Denza (Chinese name Tengshi), the premium brand of China's biggest electric vehicle maker BYD, unveiled the world's first smart electric supercar, the Denza Z Convertible, at Auto China 2026 (Beijing auto show) on the morning of the 24th, saying this.
As Li introduced the new car's performance and shouted to the hundreds of visitors and reporters packed into the pavilion, "Niubuniu (牛不牛·Isn't it cool)?," shouts and exclamations of "Niu (牛·It's cool)!" rang out in places. When Li pulled away the black veil covering the car, camera flashes popped all around, followed by cheers and applause.
Denza is BYD's premium brand, launched in 2010 as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Group. BYD now holds an overwhelming equity stake. While BYD's Dynasty (王朝) and Ocean (海洋) series are mass-market brands, Denza, together with Yangwang, handles the premium lineup.
The Denza Z Convertible unveiled that day comes fully equipped with the integrated control platform (Yisanfang·易三方), magnetorheological suspension (Yun Nian-M·云辇-M), and advanced Autonomous Driving (Tianshenzhiyan·天神之眼) features. Local media said, "The supercar race has shifted from a power output race to a control-and-intelligence race," adding, "With this, Denza has completed its full lineup from MPVs (multipurpose vehicles) to supercars, further raising its profile in the premium EV market."
◇ High-performance models, ultra-fast charging… Chinese companies 'show off tech'
This year's Beijing auto show, opening at the largest scale ever, clearly serves as a stage for a technology contest led by high performance and artificial intelligence (AI) software, moving beyond the EV adoption phase. In recent years, the number of companies in China's auto industry has grown rapidly, intensifying an oversupply problem. As a result, with industry profit margins at record lows, Chinese automakers are moving away from price wars and seizing on high performance and AI as a breakthrough.
At the BYD pavilion, which opened on the morning of the 24th, BYD's in-house brands including Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Yangwang, and Fangchengbao gathered in full force, filling a 4,200㎡ (about 1,270 pyeong) space. The display that day drew big interest not only for the Denza Z Convertible but also for new models from Fangchengbao. Fangchengbao mainly focuses on large off-road sport utility vehicles (SUVs), but for the first time it unveiled the premium sedan "Fangcheng S" and the concept car "Formula X."
The Fangcheng S is distinguished by the ability to realize multiple body styles with a single model, designed so its body structure can be flexibly combined to balance driving performance and practicality depending on the situation. The Formula X concept car is also intended for mass production, equipped with a high-performance electrification system and driving control technology.
There was also a demonstration of ultra-fast battery charging. The BYD charger has a T-shaped configuration, supporting ultra-fast charging and simultaneous charging of two vehicles. It takes 5 minutes to charge from 10% to 70% state of charge, and 9 minutes to reach 97%. At minus 30 degrees, it takes 3 minutes longer. On site, a "rare scene" unfolded as 5 to 6 influencers surrounded a BYD vehicle during high-speed charging and live-streamed simultaneously.
There was also a chamber set up to simulate a minus 30-degree environment, with various BYD models actually charging inside. Visitors put their hands into a temperature experience port to directly feel the low-temperature conditions.
◇ Cars as AI agents
Exhibits that put the AI platform competition front and center stood out. Xiaomi interpreted the car not as a mere means of transportation but as a "smart device" that connects organically with smartphones and home appliances. AI software embedded in the vehicle performs tasks such as making restaurant reservations, ordering coffee, and organizing memos at the driver's direction. It also has a function that detects the driver's stress or anxiety and automatically adjusts lighting and music upon returning home.
A concept car equipped with AI-based features enabling interaction between the driver's biosignals and the vehicle was also unveiled. The interior houses various biometric sensors that detect the driver's heart rate and more in real time. Based on this, it assists driving, aiming to deliver a driving experience in which the driver becomes one with the vehicle.
Xpeng, which has transformed from a carmaker into an "AI mobility company," unveiled "VLA 2.0," the industry's first integration of a large language model (LLM) into a driving system. Instead of specifying a point on the map, the driver can issue a natural-language command such as "Park near the mall entrance," and the vehicle understands and executes it. This goes beyond simple object recognition to technology that "understands" and judges road situations.
Huawei said it will expand its business beyond its traditional telecom focus into semiconductors, AI, and connected cars, and will invest more than $10 billion over the next five years to boost computing power for smart driving. Dongfeng Motor Corporation also announced plans to develop vehicles applying embodied intelligence technology.
Reuters said, "Chinese automakers have embedded AI into cars, turning next-generation EVs into machines not merely connected to networks but powered by software with autonomous reasoning capabilities," adding, "China's auto industry is moving quickly toward next-generation innovation."