The 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition will be held from April 23 until May 2 at the China International Exhibition Center. The show alternates every year between Shanghai and Beijing.

Attention to the show from the global auto industry seems to be surpassing that of the world's top four auto shows in Detroit, Frankfurt, Paris, and Geneva. CEOs of global carmakers that are almost impossible to invite to similar auto shows in Japan or Korea will all gather in Beijing.

In this April 2010 file photo, crowds of reporters swarm at Beijing Auto Show. /Bloomberg

Carlos Ghosn, the chairman of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, will unveil the company's high-end sedan Talisman. The car is a Chinese version of the SM7 made by Renault Samsung in Korea. Toyota's Akio Toyoda and Dan Akerson, the chairman of General Motors, will also unveil new models.

Toyota unveils over 50 cars, including its high-end brand Lexus, of which 16 are environment-friendly models such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicles.

Korea's Hyundai and Kia, which sell over 1 million cars in China a year, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong will take the Beijing Auto Show as an opportunity to expand their hold in the Chinese market. Hyundai will launch its new Avante, released in Korea last July.