The Car Brands You’ve Never Heard of Making a Massive Impact in Brussels
The 2026 Brussels Motor Show has highlighted a major shift in the automotive landscape. While household names like Opel and Hyundai took the headlines, a wave of emerging manufacturers, mainly from Chin, dominated the halls, proving that the market is changing rapidly for Irish drivers and dealers.
Leading the charge was Zeekr, showcasing high-end luxury EVs like the 001 brake, alongside Xpeng, which displayed the AeroHT flying car concept and the G9 SUV. Nio drew large crowds with its innovative battery-swapping stations, while Omoda and Jaecoo (both under the Chery Group) presented a range of SUVs already destined for the Irish markets.
The show also featured a strong focus on urban mobility. Silence displayed its e-moto scooters and the S04 nanocar, while the Swiss-designed Microlino showed off its bubble-car inspired electric quadricycle. Other niche players included Aixam, and Silence, which is targeting city commuters with compact, swappable battery tech.
Industrial and value brands were also out in force. Foton displayed electric light-duty trucks, while DFSK and Baic showcased affordable SUVs and commercial vans. Livan (a Geely-backed brand) and Linktour presented entry-level electric crossovers, while Forthing displayed the U-Tour MPV.
European-based DR Automobiles also made an appearance, showing how they re-engineer Chinese platforms for the Italian and wider EU markets. Firefly, Nio’s new affordable sub-brand, made its debut aimed at the budget-conscious electric buyer.
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