Auto Shanghai 2025 opened on Wednesday with a Media Day at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC).
Now in its 21st edition, the exhibition will feature the participation of 1,000 companies from 26 countries, with an exhibition area of 360,000 square meters (558,001,116 square inches). In addition to eight exhibition halls featuring automakers, four halls will be set up to showcase automotive technology and key components.
Auto Shanghai 2025 is an international motor show held every other year along with the Beijing Motor Show held in Beijing, and its status has recently risen rapidly. Accordingly, the participating brands are also diverse. Most of the leading global brands, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors, Honda, and Volvo, have set up booths. On the other hand, South Korean auto brands such as Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Genesis did not participate in this Shanghai Motor Show.
As one of the world’s largest markets, China is also home to a large product lineup. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the CLA long-wheelbase, a strategic Chinese vehicle, for the first time, and unveiled the next-generation electric van concept Vision V for the first time. BMW introduced the Vision Driving Experience concept, which is packed with next-generation electric vehicle technology, Audi introduced the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron, and Lexus introduced the next-generation ES, and most of them introduced electrified lineups.
What is noteworthy is the advancement of Chinese domestic brands. BYD and its subsidiaries Yangwang, Fangchengbao, and Denza, as well as Geely’s Lynk & Co and Zeekr, set up large booths that took up more than half of a specific exhibition hall. In addition, dark horse local brands such as Avatr, Leapmotor, Xiaomi, and Li Auto also participated.
The parts company exhibition hall, which takes up four exhibition halls, is also noteworthy. While traditional auto parts companies such as Bosch, ZF, Continental, Denso, Delphi, and BorgWarner are gathered in one place, battery manufacturers and tech companies targeting the auto market such as CATL, Intel, Sony, and Huawei are also participating prominently.
An industry insider noted that the pace of China’s mobility transition is surpassing expectations and added that this year’s Shanghai Auto Show will act as a litmus test, indicating the future direction the uncertain global automobile industry should follow.
Meanwhile, Auto Shanghai 2025, which was first held in 1985 and is now in its 21st year, is held every two years. After the press event, which will be held until April 24, the Trade Visitor Day will be held from April 25 to 26, and the general public will be welcomed from April 27 to May 2.
