Chinese carmakers underscored the pivotal role of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in boosting the growth and globalization of electric vehicle brands, citing the region's international connectivity and automotive-savvy consumers.

They made the remarks at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Auto Show, a 10-day event running through Sunday in Shenzhen.

First-tier markets remain an essential battleground for premium brand development, and the Greater Bay Area serves as a key bellwether shaping market trends, said a spokesperson from Dongfeng Motor's premium arm, Voyah.

"The Greater Bay Area market is crucial to our overall strategy. Besides driving sales growth, it also underpins the brand's efforts to boost public recognition, cultivate user reputation and build its premium positioning," he said.

The spokesperson said that consumers in the Greater Bay Area have long been exposed to premium automotive cultures from overseas, equipping them with sophisticated automotive knowhow and higher requirements for riding comfort, premium craftsmanship, smart features and branding.

Meanwhile, with its inherent links to Hong Kong, Macao and global markets, the Greater Bay Area also puts Voyah in a prime position to quickly decode global consumer preferences. The insights gained will lay solid groundwork for its long-term global expansion, he added.

The brand has announced plans to enter the global right-hand-drive market in the second half of the year by launching the right-hand-drive version of its Dream models in Hong Kong. These vehicles will be tailored to local laws and regulations, road conditions, driving habits, and users' demands, according to the company.

Voyah has also been stepping up its presence in the Greater Bay Area. It currently operates 58 sales outlets in Guangdong province and plans to increase the number to 74 by the end of the year.

Li Bin, founder and chairman of Shanghai-based EV maker Nio, said Guangdong is one of the company's fastest-growing markets. Total EV sales in the province hit 17,000 units in the first four months of this year, representing a 123 percent year-on-year surge.

Guangdong also hosts the most Nio charging and battery-swapping stations nationwide. As of late last month, there were 993 such stations in the province, of which Shenzhen accounted for 211.

The auto show has also attracted a large number of overseas visitors, including those from Russia, France, Kazakhstan and Nepal.

Timur Zhambakina, an auto trader from Kazakhstan, expressed a strong interest in EV brands such as BYD, Geely and Leapmotor.

"Because of the new regulation, vehicles can only be exported under the premise that they have stayed in China for over 180 days, but my customers want them as soon as possible, so here I am, trying to find traders with spot commodities," he said.

He referred to restrictions introduced in November by the Ministry of Commerce, which aim to prevent new cars from being exported under the guise of used cars. The guideline requires car firms to provide additional documentation if vehicles filed for export are registered no more than 180 days before the application date.

"The Chinese auto industry keeps moving forward and it has shown amazing results. The hardware and software of these cars are absolutely impressive. I'm looking forward to witnessing more innovations in the future," Moroccan dealer Hamza Chandid said.

China is the world's largest EV exporter, with exports reaching a record 2.6 million units in 2025 and the export value at $69.6 billion. In the first four months of this year, Chinese EV exports totaled nearly 1.4 million units — more than double the figure from the same period in 2025.

Chen Ziyu contributed to this story.

sally@chinadailyhk.com