The Chengdu auto show, scheduled to last 10 days, has been halted after four days due to local Covid control policies.

(Image credit: Chengdu auto show organizing committee)

The first top auto show of the year so far being held in Chengdu, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, has ended before schedule because of Covid concerns.

The 25th Chengdu international auto show will be suspended from August 30, with subsequent arrangements to be announced in the future, the show's organizing committee said in a notice issued early this morning.

That's because Chengdu authorities issued the latest Covid prevention and control requirements on August 29, calling for a halt to all kinds of gathering activities starting at 0:00 on August 30, a measure tentatively scheduled to be implemented for five days, according to the notice.

It is worth noting that the auto show only opened on August 26, and the exhibition, which was to be held for 10 days, was only held for four days.

The show was open for media and professional visitors only from August 26 to 28, and for general visitors from August 29 to September 4, according to a previous arrangement.

The show is the first A-class auto show in China this year, an international show where mainstream car companies will use their global resources to participate, with 128 brands showing more than 1,600 vehicles, according to information released by its organizers.

A total of 108 new models were unveiled so far, 40 of which were new energy vehicles (NEVs).

The sudden stop of the show signifies the risk of holding such events at a time when the situation in Covid remains tough.

Previously, the Beijing auto show, which was planned for the end of April, was postponed due to similar concerns, and no new date has been announced.

Chengdu is one of China's most important auto markets, and auto shows are one of the key occasions for promoting car sales. At last year's Chengdu auto show, 38,000 vehicles were sold for RMB 6.52 billion.

On the first day of the show this year, car companies held 72 launches and announced 92 new models, according to information previously released by the event's organizers.

Emerging NEV brands, including Nio, Xpeng Motors, Li Auto and Zeekr, participated in the show.

Nio brought its full lineup of models to the event, including the ES8, ES6, EC6, ES7, ET7, ET5 and the electric supercar EP9, of which a pink ET5 was on display for the first time.

Notably, some previously high-profile brands were absent from the show, including WM Motor, Aiways, and Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group.

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