The First China Auto Paintable Film Design Competition 2026, organized by CIMP and the Guangzhou Automobile Parts and Accessories Industry Association, Automotive Printable Film Sub-Council and sponsored by Carpino, was successfully held in the Hallsway 4 to 6 at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao’an). This event is one of the "2026 Greater Bay Area International Automotive Techology and Art Festival," the competition brought together global automotive color-change and custom paint brands, vehicle wrap and modification shops, as well as car owners passionate about custom wrap film design. It attracted Gen Z audiences, modification enthusiasts, media representatives and other visitors to the venue.

As the automotive consumer market is trending younger, personalized and community-driven automotive culture is rapidly growing. Printable films and Itasha culture have evolved from a niche subculture into an important medium for Gen Z to express their attitudes and showcase their identity through cars.

This event integrated competition, printable film design, ACG culture, car models and cosplay, creating a high-impact experience that combined individuality, visual design and youth-oriented pop culture. Through creative vehicle wrap works, participants expressed personal attitudes and defined distinctive styling languages, presenting visitors with an immersive celebration of custom automotive aesthetics.

Beyond the visual appeal, the competition also served as a consumer engagement platform, helping participating shops attract on-site traffic, stimulate sales opportunities and strengthen brand visibility among end consumers. By connecting design creativity with commercial application, the event further promoted the broader market adoption and scalable development of the automotive wrap design industry.

The competition invited two respected judges to conduct the evaluation: Liese, a senior automotive graphic designer from Japan, and Qiangpo Ge, an automotive livery designer and modified car influencer. From a professional perspective, they evaluated each vehicle across multiple dimensions, including theme and concept, design originality, vehicle wrap and graphic application techniques, overall finish quality and color coordination. Their professional assessment ensured a fair, impartial and industry-focused judging process.

Liese — Senior Japanese Automotive graphic Designer

Qiangpo Ge — Automotive Livery Designer and Modified Car Influencer

Following several rounds of judging, the competition announced its four award winners at the awards ceremony on March 21. Qiangpo Ge presented the Best Originality Award and Best Creativity Award, while Liese presented the Best Visual Art Award and Most Popular Award.

Best Originality Award–Participating Brands No.27: Meiche Yizhan

Best Visual Art Award–Participating Brands No.45: Cheyouku

Most Popular Award–Car Owner No.59: Zhang Jingqian

Design Concept: The design combines Chinese dragon elements with the brand IP “Donggua Car Art,” creating an original expression with distinctive Oriental cultural character. Set against surging waves and a soaring dragon, symbols of strength and protection, the work incorporates a youthful and playful IP visual identity, resulting in a highly recognizable creative concept.

Design Concept: The design integrates pet-inspired themes into the overall vehicle artwork. Through personification and delicate visual storytelling, it endows the car body design with warmth and a sense of story, strengthens emotional resonance and personal expression.

Design Concept: Built around a low-slung stance, he design integrates elements from the classic anime One Piece into the vehicle wrap artwork, reinterpreting the car’s visual narrative and layering. With a strong sense of motion and artistic expression, it creates a highly recognizable visual art statement.

Design Concept: Using high-contrast white, purple and blue as the key visual focal point, the design blends a functional aesthetic with track-inspired culture. By incorporating an ACGN-inspired IP style to reconstruct the vehicle’s visual narrative, it enhances layering and dynamic tension, resulting in a highly engaging expression that resonates strongly with audiences.

This is not only a competition, but also a showcase of automotive culture, trend-driven expression and individuality. From creative concept to design execution, from visual storytelling to technical application, China’s automotive wrap art is entering a more mature and diversified stage of development. Looking ahead, we look forward to more creators joining in, turning every vehicle into a moving artwork that expresses personal identity.

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The CIMP AutoEcosystems Expo, established in 2006, has become a leading automotive industry ecosystem trade platform in Asia. With 26 successful editions to date, the expo stands as the world’s first full-industry-chain B2B2C automotive ecosystem exhibition and trade platform, connecting OEMs, suppliers, auto parts companies, aftermarket service providers, modification brands, technology companies, and consumers. Positioned around "Technology, Fashion, and Trade" the expo covers both passenger and commercial vehicle markets, with a focus on global vehicle release, auto technology, auto modification, auto aftermarket, and auto culture. It builds a comprehensive ecosystem integrating product showcases, sourcing and trade, trend releases, industry networking, and cultural experiences. The 2027 edition will reach a total scale of 600,000 square meters, bringing together 120 carmakers and 7,000 companies across the automotive industry. It is expected to welcome more than 500,000 domestic buyers and 20,000 international buyers for product procurement, creating unmatched business opportunities across the entire automotive supply chain. More than 80 international summits and events will be held concurrently. As an annual benchmark for the global automotive industry, the CIMP AutoEcosystems Expo is not only a vital platform for sourcing new products and identifying emerging trends, but also a key driver of innovation, ecosystem integration, and automotive culture development.

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