Chinese carmakers account for almost half of the 56 contenders for World Car of the Year 2027, with electric models filling the field. Many Chinese entries are not sold in Europe or the US. For many buyers, gas engines are old news, a shift that would have seemed impossible not long ago.
The entry bar is high. Cars must reach at least 10,000 units a year, stay below luxury pricing in their basic markets and be sold in two major markets on two continents between January 2026 and March 2027. These rules open the field to China’s biggest players, backed by a huge home market and a relentless export push. Autonext and Carscoops both note 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 and Jetour G700. These names are everywhere in China, but most are unfamiliar in Spain or much of Europe. The shortlist also includes established brands like BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. The sheer number of Chinese entries changes the map. Carscoops notes that 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 basic finals. Each subcategory gets five finalists: World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car and World Car Design of the Year. A second round of tests follows, and 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 reports that some sources list March 24, 2027, as the final date, while others mention only 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 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.
The 2027 shortlist captures a market in flux. Chinese makers have moved from the sidelines to the center, and electric cars are now the basic event. For buyers and established brands, the message is blunt: the old order is gone. The next leaders will be chosen on a global stage, beyond Europe and America.
