New York City shows off new cars, concepts

Industry insiders agree on growing importance of China's electric vehicles

Automakers from around the world showcased their latest vehicles at the 2026 New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, with an emphasis on new electric vehicles.

The event, which will be open to the public from April 3-12 at the Javits Center in Manhattan, comes as the United States' market grapples with lagging consumer demand and a downturn in EV sales after Washington eliminated a $7,500 EV tax credit.

But while the US EV market finds ways to deal with these challenges, many attendees acknowledged the growing importance of China's EVs on the world stage.

One carmaker said that allowing China's cars into the US would actually spur healthy international competition.

"Competition is good. We see plenty of Chinese brands in Europe and they're really, really good," Jens Sverdrup, chairman and chief commercial officer of Zenvo Automotive, told China Daily.

"A brand like BYD, every time I see one, I'm impressed by the build, quality, you know, they drive well, I mean, they definitely have a sort of a head start in terms of efficiency and production."

Sverdrup showed off his company's $3 million Zenvo Aurora, a light blue V12-powered hybrid hypercar.

He explained that for Zenvo, headquartered in Denmark, the overseas market is very important. At least 60 percent of its cars are sold in the US, mainly in California, as well as Europe and Asia.

Broad appeal

While his cars offer impeccable design, "done the Danish way", he says that Chinese-made EVs have broad appeal.

"Instead of protecting ourselves, we should just not get in the way of progress, and we should actually embrace the Chinese, and just try to do as good or better, right?" Sverdrup added. "Competition is good. And they are great cars, you know, like there's nothing wrong with any of them. I'm thoroughly impressed."

A panel of US experts urged more stability in Washington to support the car industry.

Several attendees said that the international auto sector benefits when all countries participate.

Former US president Joe Biden raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to 100 percent in 2024, a move widely seen as a preemptive step to limit their access to the US market. Chinese EVs had little presence in the United States prior to the increase, but the higher tariffs — along with evolving federal restrictions on connected vehicle technology — have further constrained potential entry.

US President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to allow China's automakers into the country in the next two years, if they use US factories and workers. "Let China come in," Trump said in a speech at the Detroit Economic Club in January.

Mike Levine, director of product communications for Ford Motor Company, focuses on North America but told China Daily: "We have Ford China (headquartered in Shanghai). China is a very important overseas market."

At the auto show, Ford celebrated three decades of its full-size SUV — the Expedition — with a special edition model: the 2027 Ford Expedition 30th Anniversary Appearance Package featuring a tricolor iridescent paint job originally made for a Mustang variant. Nearly 3 million Expeditions have been sold since its debut in 1996.

Hyundai, the South Korean automaker, used the show to reveal its Hyundai Boulder Concept, an off-road SUV. The carmaker has been in the US market for 40 years.

Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Hyundai, told China Daily: "For us, the most important thing is consumer confidence."

Also at the auto show was car enthusiast Sung Kang, the Korean-American actor best known for his role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Kang, a filmmaker, was promoting his car-inspired movie Drifter, which he wrote, directed and starred in, and is due out soon. (source: China daily)