(Yicai Global) Nov. 19 -- The 16th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition is in full throttle from Nov. 16 to 25. The lively festivities cannot avert China's first automobile market decline in 28 years, however.

The exhibition spans 240,000 square meters and houses 1,085 cars on display, 48 of which staged their world debut there, including six multinational cars and 28 concept cars, 15 of which are from foreign brands and 13 domestic marques. Of the new energy vehicles, 150 from home and abroad are presented, including 44 from foreign companies.

Almost all major brands are attending the auto show, including Volkswagen and its joint ventures in China, Audi, Skoda, Mercedes-Benz, Bayerische Motoren Werke, Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Renault, Ford, Lincoln, General Motors, Jeep, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus, as well as Chery, Geely, Great Wall Motors, Chang'an, SAIC Roewe, Morris Garages, Guangzhou Automobile Chinese and other Chinese brands.

Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Aston Martin, and McLaren and other premium players will also make an appearance.

The exhibition in the southern Chinese megalopolis has also lured Tesla, Polestar, NIO and other electric vehicle brands.

In the current global automotive recession, the Chinese car market is still the world's most promising, though it has also slowed down this year. Ever more auto firms regard it as the world's most important market and continue to up investment, set up research and development centers and build the most advanced auto manufacturing plants there.

The auto show will demonstrate the Chinese auto sector's potential, that of new energy vehicles above all, and Yicai Global will report it all.

Editor: Ben Armour