The 2026 Paris Motor Show kicked off on October 12th, officially. While participating in overseas car shows by Chinese brands is no longer a novelty, this year's Paris Motor Show saw Chinese brands come together to put on a spectacular performance. Including Geely, BYD, Chery, Changan, GAC, Dongfeng, Leapmotor, Li Auto, XPeng, AITO and 212, all of which participated in the show, making this year's Paris Motor Show quite different. Previously, we were more focused on when overseas brands would bring their new cars to the domestic market, but now we are more interested in how Chinese brands are progressing overseas, especially in the European market. According to reports, among the 59 exhibitors at this year's Paris Motor Show, Chinese brands accounted for 22 spots, even surpassing the combined total of French (10) and German (7) brands. This year, Chinese brands are no longer fighting alone for attention, but are actively competing with European brands on the international stage, officially taking their place at the main table of the international stage. Let's take a look at what Chinese brands did at this year's Paris Motor Show. Global Debut, Showcasing Chinese Brands! For new or updated products, the first global debut is always the most eye-catching moment. Therefore, choosing an international stage to attract global attention is also a top choice. At this year's Paris Motor Show, Chinese brands showcased the Avatr T09 concept and the smart #2 in their global debuts. The Avatr T09 concept is expected to go on sale in the domestic market in 2026, priced at over 500,000 RMB. Its arrival helped Avatr catch the tail end of the "9 Series Luxury SUV" trend. Notably, this is also the first model in Avatr's new "Exquisite Luxury Sequence," which emphasizes grandeur and stability, while Avatr 11 and 12 represent the "Casual Luxury Sequence," maintaining the brand's avant-garde and sporty style. In terms of product specifications, the Avatr T09 concept is 5285/2025/1810mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 3150mm, featuring a six-seat layout. The powertrain offers two versions: one with a 1.5L engine (110kW) and dual motors (180kW/310kW), and another with a 2.0L engine (155kW) and triple motors (180kW/225kW). The battery capacity is 71.24kWh from CATL, with a CLTC range exceeding 400km. The intelligent driving system is equipped with a Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 four-LiDAR solution, and the chassis features the Taixing Intelligent Control System, equipped with a closed-loop dual-cavity air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and crab-walk mode. Editor's Note: Although the Avatr T09 concept did not announce its European launch plans, its sibling models, Avatr 06T and 07L, will enter the European market in 2027. This debut can be seen as a brand showcase, allowing European consumers to quickly understand the brand's positioning and flagship product capabilities, paving the way for future product launches in Europe. Smart Spirit #2 Smart Spirit #2 also made its global debut at the Paris Motor Show, marking a return home for the successor to the smart fortwo. The Premium version has already been priced at 112,999 RMB in China, with a limited production of 999 units each in China and Europe. The Premium version will be announced in November. Smart Spirit #2 is 2751/2764/1669/1555mm in length, width, height, and wheelbase, with a rear-mounted single motor and a 35.8kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, offering a CLTC range of 410km. The suspension is a front MacPherson strut and rear five-link independent system, with a minimum turning radius of 3.35 meters. Editor's Note: At this year's Paris Motor Show, Chinese brands introduced the Avatr T09 concept, showcasing the brand's flagship product. Meanwhile, Chinese brand Smart also debuted its flagship model, smart #2, which is a homecoming for the smart fortwo. Notably, the Citroën 2CV concept car was also revived at the Paris Motor Show, with a price tag of approximately 112,600 RMB, equivalent to about 1.5 million euros, and is expected to become a competitor for smart Spirit #2 in Europe. European Launch, Seizing the European Market! While global debuts attract much attention, the moment when prices are announced is the most crucial for consumers. However, only one new model, the Li6 from Li Auto, was introduced at the Paris Motor Show for its European debut. The Li6 will launch in Norway and the Netherlands first, with plans to expand to other European countries. In the future, Li Auto will introduce hybrid models and adapt them locally, offering more choices to local consumers. In the same vein, the M6 from BYD was also introduced at the Paris Motor Show for its European debut. BYD has announced its exclusive commercial and brand operation partner in Europe, Volvo, and will take over local operations for the brand. The M6 from Leapmotor, the fifth product in the Leapmotor lineup, was also introduced for its European debut. Zero Run: A05 and more In this year's Paris Motor Show, the largest exhibition area belonged to Zero Run (5,000 square meters). They showcased the A10 (B03X), B01 (B05), B10, C10, and T03, among others. The A05 (B03) and D19 also made their European debut for the first time. Zero Run also announced a positive news, with the B10 already in production at the factory in Saragossa, Spain. This collaboration between Stellantis and Zero Run uses Stellantis' manufacturing experience and production systems to produce vehicles specifically for the European market. Editor's Note: With the Paris Motor Show, we not only saw more Chinese brands participating and announcing plans to enter the European market, but also saw several brands already building factories in Europe or planning to do so. This could mark a significant turning point for Chinese automotive brands, moving from exporting vehicles to local production and operation. In May, Chinese brands' sales in Europe reached 138,410 units for the first time, surpassing Japanese brands. By 2027, with more Chinese brands entering the European market, what kind of achievements can they achieve? Let's wait and see.