BYD distributes its innovative output across its three primary brands: BYD, Yangwang, and Denza. According to CAM, the BYD brand itself accounts for the vast majority of these advancements, recording 36 innovations and 18 world premieres—the highest individual count in the study. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Group derives much of its current innovative strength from the Audi and Porsche brands. Mercedes-Benz remains the most innovative premium brand of 2026, securing third place in the overall group standings. Mercedes-Benz scored particularly high with the new CLA, which leads the midsize segment in energy efficiency, range, and charging performance.

In addition to the group victory, BYD was also named the most innovative volume brand of 2026 in the CAM ranking. This achievement is attributed primarily to breakthroughs in powertrain technology, specifically battery innovation, and advanced driver assistance systems. Renault also made significant strides with its new all-electric lineup, including the R4, R5, and Twingo. Notably, the Twingo introduces vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality to the minicar segment for the first time, allowing customers to feed electricity back into the grid and generate revenue with their vehicles. This helped Renault secure second place among volume brands, though it remains at a noticeable distance from the leader.

Toyota ranks third in the volume segment with approximately 46 innovation index points. The company maintains a unique selling point in the upper-midsize segment with its mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, further solidifying its position among the industry’s top innovators.