Nearly half the World Car of the Year 2027 shortlist comes from China. Electric models dominate, but many aren’t even sold in Europe or the US. The competition looks nothing like it did a few years ago.
Chinese carmakers have crashed the gates. Out of 56 cars in the running for World Car of the Year 2027, almost half are Chinese. That would have sounded impossible not long ago. Electric cars now fill the field. For many, gas engines are old news. But most of these Chinese models still can’t be found in Europe or the US.
The entry bar is high. Cars must hit at least 10,000 units a year, stay below luxury pricing in their main markets, and be sold in two major markets on two continents between January 2026 and March 2027. These rules let China’s biggest players in. Their home market is huge. Their export push is relentless. Autonext and Carscoops both point out that only cars with real global reach and production muscle make the cut.
The 2027 World Car Awards shortlist includes models from 13 different Chinese brands, such as BYD, Chery, Changan, Deepal, GAC, Geely, Jetour, Leapmotor, Lynk & Co, MG, Omoda, Onvo, XPeng, and Zeekr.
Look at the list. BYD Ti7, Changan Nevo Q05, Chery Q, Exeed Exlantix ET, Jetour G700—these names are everywhere in China, but most are strangers in Spain or much of Europe. The shortlist still includes old guard brands like BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. But the sheer number of Chinese entries changes the map. Carscoops notes this mix of new Chinese challengers and established global names is shaking up the industry.
The award process is tight. Jury members will test every car from September to January. By January, only ten make the main finals. Each subcategory—World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car, and World Car Design of the Year—gets five finalists. Then comes a second round of tests. The top three in each group are named in late February. Winners are crowned at the New York International Auto Show in March 2027. Kursiv points out some sources list March 24, 2027, as the final date, while others just mention the New York show window.
For Spanish drivers, these new names might feel familiar. Recent coverage shows Spain’s roads are already packed with new brands and logos, many from China. Buyers face a market that changes almost overnight. It’s hard to keep up.
The surge in Chinese contenders reflects both the vast scale of China’s domestic market and the country’s aggressive push into global exports, a trend confirmed by multiple independent automotive publications referencing the official World Car Awards list.
The full candidate list reads like a snapshot of the new car world: BMW i3, Buick Electra E7, BYD Ti7, Changan Nevo Q05, Chery Q, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Captiva EV / PHEV, Cupra Raval, Deepal S05, Deepal S07, DS N°7, Exeed Exlantix ET, Exeed RX, GAC Aion UT, GAC Aion V, Geely EX2, Geely Starray EM-i, Hyundai Bayon, Hyundai IONIQ 3, iCAUR v23, Infiniti QX65, Jetour G700, Jetour T2, Kia EV2, Kia Seltos, Kia Syros EV, Kia Telluride, Leapmotor B10, Leapmotor C10, Leapmotor T03, Lepas L6 EV, Lepas L8 PHEV, Lexus ES, Lincoln Corsair, Lynk & Co 900, Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-6e / EZ-60, Mercedes-Benz Clase C eléctrico, Mercedes-Benz GLC eléctrico, Mercedes-Benz GLA, MG4 EV Urban, Nissan Frontier Pro, Nissan NX8, Omoda 4, Onvo L90, Polestar 4 SUV, Renault Filante, Subaru Trailseeker, Subaru Uncharted, Volkswagen Atlas / Teramont Pro, Volvo EX60, XPeng G6 2026 Edition, XPeng L03, XPeng P7+, Zeekr 8X.
This isn’t just a contest. The 2027 shortlist is a snapshot of a market in flux. Chinese makers have moved from the sidelines to the center. Electric cars are now the main event. For buyers and old-school brands, the message is blunt. The old order is gone. The next leaders will be chosen on a global stage, not just in Europe or America.
