New Car Reveals and Auto Shows: Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai — 2026-10-20
The 2026 Paris Motor Show concluded with a strong resurgence for European heritage brands, featuring high-profile revivals like the Citroën 2CV Concept and Peugeot E-T16. In Japan, the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek highlighted Mazda’s new rotary EV system and a redesigned Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are aggressively entering the European market with new electric trucks and competitive pricing strategies.
New Car Reveals and Auto Shows: Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai — 2026-10-20
Top developments
Paris Motor Show marks European heritage revival
The 2026 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Auto), held from October 12–18, featured a significant return of legacy European designs. Citroën unveiled the "2 CV Concept," a modern reinterpretation of its iconic model aimed at future mobility challenges. Peugeot also debuted the E-T16 Concept, an electric performance vehicle that explicitly references the legendary 205 T16 rally car, signaling a strategy of leveraging heritage to compete with new EV entrants.
Mazda reveals Rotary EV System Concept in Japan
At the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek (October 13–16), Mazda displayed its "Rotary EV System Concept" (2-rotor) as part of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association joint exhibition. This concept suggests the continued development of rotary engines as range extenders for electric vehicles, potentially for future sports cars like the Iconic SP. The event also featured Nissan’s new Elgrand and third-generation e-POWER technology.
Chinese EVs and Trucks surge in Europe
Chinese manufacturers are increasingly prominent in European markets. At the Paris show, brands like BYD and Geely showcased new models, while the IAA Transportation revealed over a dozen Chinese heavy-duty electric truck makers entering Europe with competitive pricing and megawatt-charging capabilities. Motor Trend noted that "China has arrived in Europe," posing a direct challenge to established European automakers.
Local view
Japan: Asahi Shimbun reported that the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek served as a crucial business matching platform, with many companies from the Tokai region participating to secure new partnerships. Kuruma News highlighted speculation about the next-generation Toyota Corolla, noting its sportier design direction and potential gasoline engine options following recent concept reveals.
Germany: AutoScout24 Deutschland emphasized the dominance of both French brands and Chinese manufacturers at the Paris show, listing key highlights from BYD, Citroën, Geely, Hyundai, Renault, and Smart. GQ Germany described the event as a potential "Renaissance of big auto shows," citing the high volume of world premieres.
Context & numbers
The 2026 Paris Motor Show expanded significantly, featuring more than 60 exhibiting brands compared to 48 in previous iterations. Stellantis previewed six of its nine concept cars in an exclusive "Night Before" event, setting the stage for the public debut.
On the radar
- Wynn Concours Las Vegas: Scheduled for October 30–November 1, this collector-car celebration will feature world debuts and hypercars, including legendary GT1 racers.
- Citroën Design Leadership: Citroën design chief Xavier Chardon stated that future car designers must master both engineering and business, reflecting the industry's shift toward integrated product development.
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