Some 130 carmakers from around the globe are showcasing more than 1,600 models at the Chengdu Motor Show, the annual heavyweight gala for car aficionados and buyers in Southwest China.

The event, which kicked off on Friday and will run through Sept 8 in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, covers 220,000 square meters and is Chengdu's largest ever, said Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai, one of the event's organizers.

In an interview ahead of the event, Liu Guoliang, president of Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai, said the annual event is a window to the latest automotive technology and industry trends in China.

Smart electric vehicles are taking center stage at the event, with the booths of Chinese brands crowded with journalists and visitors.

Usually six to eight brands share a hall, but BYD, China's best-selling NEV maker, has made one hall its own, exhibiting models of its marques from BYD and Denza to Fang Cheng Bao and Yangwang.

Its top models are BYD's first MPV as well as the Seal 06GT hatchback and the 2025 Song L EV SUV.

Huawei, which has repeatedly claimed not to make vehicles itself, is a name that cannot be ignored in the fast-evolving sector.

At the Chengdu Motor Show, it is showcasing models from all three marques it has codeveloped: the AITO, the Stelato and the Luxeed.

The AITO M9, codeveloped with Seres, is the best-selling luxury SUV priced above 500,000 yuan ($70,501) in China. The Stelato S9, the result of Huawei and BAIC cooperation, is set to take on Mercedes' S Class.

Great Wall Motor boasts its largest ever booth at the Chengdu Motor Show this year, totaling more than 3,500 square meters. Models from all five of its marques Poer, Haval, Ora, Tank and Wey are on display.

The automaker based in Hebei province sold 129,000 NEVs in the first half of the year, up 44.89 percent year-on-year, accounting for 23.38 percent of its total deliveries in the period.

Xpeng, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last week, delivered the first MONA M03 vehicle on Friday at the Chengdu Motor Show.

The startup announced that it had received more than 30,000 orders for the model within two days of its launch on Tuesday. It is expected to take on Tesla's Model 3.

Major international brands are attracting visitors with their models as well. But they appear to have lost the battle with domestic marques to win media and visitors' attention, with the exception of BMW.

BMW and its MINI marque are presenting 13 new models at the event, the German car group's largest-ever portfolio at the Chengdu Motor Show.

Its heavyweight models on show are the hybrid M5, which is making its China premiere and will hit the market later this year, and the long-wheelbase X3 making its global debut.

Sean Green, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said competition in the sector is like a marathon. He added that BMW is delivering satisfactory products today and has a long-term product plan for the future.

Porsche, another German brand, launched a new variant of its electric Macan SUV at the event. Other highlights include the four-door electric Taycan Turbo GT and the electric Taycan 4, tailored for the Chinese market.

Sino-German joint venture SAIC Volkswagen has a mixed lineup at the event, including the Passat Pro sedan and the electric ID. series.

Gasoline vehicles dominate the booths of other global carmakers at the Chengdu Motor Show.

Cadillac, the premium arm of General Motors, unveiled its new XT5 SUV, while Ford's high-end Lincoln marque launched a new version of the Aviator SUV, featuring a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine.

Beijing Hyundai, a joint venture between BAIC and Hyundai, is offering the fifth-generation Santa Fe SUV, and Changan Ford is presenting the updated Explorer SUV.

The event is expected to promote automotive sales in Sichuan province and Southwest China as a whole, said organizers. By the end of 2023, Chengdu was home to more than 7.1 million vehicles, ranking first among Chinese cities.

Organizers said visitors have opportunities to win prizes up to 49,999 yuan ($7,050) if they place orders at the show.

Local authorities in Chengdu have earmarked 100 million yuan to sponsor vehicle trade-ins. Those who purchase private vehicles from Friday to Sept 20 are eligible for subsidies of up to 8,000 yuan.

China is the world's largest vehicle market. More than 16.31 million vehicles were sold in the country in the first seven months of this year, up 4.4 percent year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.