139th Canton Fair Auto Phase: A Quick Review！

April 22, 2026
Posted by AnthonyWang

139th Canton Fair Auto Phase: A Quick Review

Hello everyone,

I just got back from Guangzhou, where I attended Phase 1 of the 139th Canton Fair. For those who don’t know, the Canton Fair is China’s largest and most important trade fair. Phase 1 is all about electronics, home appliances, industrial equipment, and — my personal favorite — automobiles.

I was there representing YL Automobile. Our team participated in the first phase, which ran from April 15th to April 19th. It was a busy but exciting week. Today, I want to share my honest thoughts about this year’s auto section.

The Crowds: Smaller, But Smarter

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Compared to previous editions of the Canton Fair, the number of visitors this year was noticeably smaller. In the past, the halls were so packed that you could barely walk. This time, the aisles were wider, and there were fewer people pushing and shoving.

At first, I was worried. “Is the auto industry slowing down?” I asked myself. But very quickly, I realized that fewer people did not mean less business. In fact, the opposite was true.

The quality of the visitors was much higher. In previous years, we met many “lookers” — people just collecting catalogs and free gifts. This year, almost every person who stopped by our booth was a serious buyer. They asked detailed questions about prices, spare parts, and shipping. They knew what they wanted. So, while the numbers were down, the conversion rate (turning a visitor into a customer) was probably the highest we have ever seen.

The Auto Section: Hot and Happening

Even though the overall fair was quieter, the automobile section was on fire.

The auto displays were spread across two main locations:

1.Hall 8.1 (Indoor Hall): This was where you found the big, flashy booths. The cars were polished like mirrors, and the lights were bright. This hall felt like a mini auto show.

2.Hall 13.0 (Outdoor Hall): This was the real action zone. The outdoor space allowed for bigger vehicles like electric trucks, vans, and buses. It was also where buyers could actually hear the engines start up and see the cars move a little. The outdoor hall was noisy, busy, and full of energy.

Who Was There? The Big Brands

Several Chinese automobile brands set up their own official booths. Here is who stood out:

1. GAC (The C-Position King)
As expected, GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group) was the star of the show. They occupied the C-position — the central, largest, most expensive spot in Hall 8.1. Their booth was two stories high, with VIP lounges and giant screens. They brought their latest electric sedans and SUVs. Every time I passed by, their booth was crowded with foreign buyers taking photos. GAC is a local hero (Guangzhou is their home), and they showed everyone why they are the top dog.

2. Dayun (The New Challenger)
A new name that caught my eye was Dayun (大运). I remember Dayun for making motorcycles and heavy trucks, but now they are making passenger EVs. Their cars look surprisingly modern. They had a simple but effective booth. Dayun is a “new star” in the car world, and they are trying to compete with the big brands by offering lower prices. Many buyers from Africa were very interested in Dayun.

3. Skywell (创维 - The TV Maker)
This was the most surprising exhibitor. Skywell (also known as Skyworth in the home appliance world) is famous for making TVs. Now, they are making electric cars! Their booth was clean and white, showing off a sleek electric SUV. The message was clear: “If we can make smart TVs, we can make smart cars.” Many people were curious. It shows you how fast the EV market is changing.

Where Did the Buyers Come From?

Let me tell you about the people we met at the fair.

The Majority: Africa
Most of the foreign visitors we spoke to came from African countries. I personally met buyers from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal. Why so many Africans? Because Chinese cars offer great value. They are affordable, durable, and spare parts are easy to get. African importers love Chinese EVs and fuel cars because the price fits their local market.

I had a long conversation with a businessman from Nigeria. He told me, “In my country, Chinese cars are becoming as popular as Japanese used cars. We want new Chinese cars because they have better warranties.”

The Missing: Middle East
On the other hand, I noticed a big drop in visitors from the Middle East — countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, and Lebanon. In previous fairs, you would see many men in white robes (Kandura) bargaining loudly. This year, there were very few.

Why? The reason is sad but simple: war and conflict. The region is unstable right now. Travel is difficult, and many businessmen are focused on safety, not shopping for cars. We missed our Middle Eastern friends, and I hope they can return next time.

What YL Automobile Did After the Fair

At YL Automobile, we didn’t just sit in our booth waiting for customers. We were active.

Every afternoon, after the fair closed at 6:00 PM, we invited our interested clients to visit our nearby car depot. We have a large collection of vehicles there — sedans, SUVs, minibuses, and trucks.

We let the clients:

l Sit inside the cars to feel the seats and space.

l Start the engines to listen for noise.

l Test the air conditioning (very important for African clients!).

l Inspect the build quality with their own eyes.

Then, we went back to our office or hotel. From 9:00 PM to midnight, we worked on quotations. This is the most important time. We calculated shipping costs (by sea to Lagos, Tema, or Mombasa), insurance, and taxes. We sent our clients professional price lists by 10 AM the next morning. That is how you win deals — speed and honesty.

Final Thoughts: The Bigger Picture

The 139th Canton Fair taught me a lesson. More people does not always mean more success.

Yes, there were fewer visitors. Yes, the Middle Eastern buyers were absent. But the buyers who came were serious. They had money. They had plans. And they chose to spend time with us.

The fair was like a filter. It removed the tourists and left only the real businesspeople.

For YL Automobile, this was our best Canton Fair in terms of lead quality. We shook hands with partners from Nigeria and Burkina Faso. We showed them our cars. We made them quotes. And now, we are waiting for the orders to come.

The Canton Fair remains a powerful engine for China’s car export industry. It brings the world to Guangzhou. And as long as African buyers keep coming, and as long as Chinese brands like GAC, Dayun, and Skywell keep innovating, the future is bright.

If you are a car buyer from Africa or South America, my advice is: Don’t miss the 140th Canton Fair. But if you come, come prepared. Do your homework. And come see us at YL Automobile.

Thanks for reading.

Drive safe, and trade safe.

— Written by a YL Automobile team member, Guangzhou, April 2026.