News Roundup: Oct 19, 2026
Paris Motor Show special!
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/YDMOfENE3IE
Auto shows are yesterday's news? Think again, mon ami!
It's been eight years since I attended the Paris Motor Show, which had always been my favorite global auto show. It combined the scale of Frankfurt or Geneva or Tokyo with my favorite city (and cuisine). With over 60 brands represented at this year's show (~25% more than the 2024 event), it seemed worthwhile to attend.I was not disappointed. Press conferences! Crowds! Concept cars! Vehicle debuts! Stylish and engaging exhibits! And tiny little finger foods with the occasional glass of wine! It was just about everything I've come to expect, and the nine miles and twelve hours I logged on the single media day are testament to the content of the show.
Naturally, some things changed. Instead of a nice laminated card with my name (incredibly useful to jog my memory when running into a once-a-year acquaintance), I got a wristband with a chip to digitally check me into the show. Instead of scrambling before a press conference to get a little translating box with awkwardly-fitting earpieces, my AirPods did a respectable (though not perfect) job of translation on the fly. And there's no longer a mad rush for press kits after the press conference thanks to The Cloud.
Who was there? Not, alas, everyone; BMW Group was the most notable absentee, having withdrawn a couple of months ago. None of the Japanese attended either, but both Hyundai and Kia were present. Among the big players, VW Group, Stellantis, Renault Group, and Mercedes-Benz (including Smart)--were joined by about 20 Chinese brands.
Yes, the Chinese threat is real. But they weren't just there to show off their automated driving systems that claim to be good enough to survive Parisian traffic. A variation of the phrase "in Europe, for Europe" could be heard at several Chinese automaker press conferences; they were there not just to sell cars but to be perceived as good citizens. So, that means not just setting up sales teams but also R&D labs, design studios, and (of course) manufacturing hubs.
Curiously, though, I don't believe the Chinese executed a global debut of any new product; anything that was showcased in Paris was a European debut for something that had appeared in Chengdu or Shanghai. That's probably one of the key things separating from the Chinese from the legacy players--for the moment.
I also attended the Paris Automotive Summit, which featured speeches from (and Q&A with) the CEOs of Stellantis, VW Group, Valeo, Xpeng, and Renault Group. There were some common themes that ran through the talks: the need for speed, supporting the European industrial base, and taking a rational approach to CO2 legislation. VW Group's Oliver Blume was perhaps a bit of an outlier, foreseeing a 100% EV market in Europe's future.
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