Shanghai International Auto Show 2025 Unveils Over 100 New Car Models with Global Industry Leaders in Attendance

The 21st Shanghai International Automotive Industry Exhibition (referred to as the “2025 Shanghai Auto Show”) commenced on April 23 and will run until May 2. This event not only reflects the profound legacy of China’s automotive industry but also serves as a critical benchmark for guiding global automotive trends. Amid a backdrop where many traditional auto shows are losing their luster and shrinking in scale, the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show is thriving, generating significant excitement.

According to reports, this year's show has attracted nearly 1,000 renowned automotive manufacturers and supply chain companies from 26 countries and regions, marking the largest scale in history. Over a hundred new vehicles are set to make their global debut, as major automotive brands gather to showcase their latest models and technologies, solidifying the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show as a key indicator for the global automotive sector.

The exhibition spans more than 360,000 square meters and features vehicles powered by various energy sources, including gasoline, pure electric, and plug-in hybrids. The lineup includes traditional giants like Volkswagen, Toyota, and General Motors, alongside emerging Chinese brands such as BYD, Huawei, and Nio. Organizers estimate that over 100 new models will be unveiled during the first two days of the show.

This year, new energy vehicles dominate the spotlight at most exhibition booths, attracting considerable attention from attendees. At the BYD booth, a large crowd gathered, with many international visitors filming the new models. During the show, BYD launched five new vehicles under the Ocean series globally. Among these, the Ocean-S concept car showcased future design trends, while the Seal 06 EV offers a high-quality experience tailored to young users. The Seal 06 DM-i travel version provides mainstream market options based on its pure heritage.

The Sea Lion 06 DM-i and Sea Lion 06 EV models were developed using the fifth-generation DM technology and the e-platform 3.0Evo, with prices ranging from 160,000 to 200,000 yuan, and are expected to hit the market in the third quarter. On the opening day, SAIC President Jia Jianxu and Huawei Executive Director Yu Chengdong announced that the first vehicle from their "Shangjie" brand will be launched this fall. Additionally, companies such as Xiaomi Auto, Hongmeng Zhixing, and others made their debut at the Shanghai Auto Show.

This is Xiaomi Auto's first participation in the Shanghai Auto Show, and a product expert noted that attendees showed significant interest in their model delivery times. This year, Xiaomi Auto presented the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and the entire SU7 product line. Furthermore, new collaborative elements between foreign and local automotive companies, as well as between foreign and Chinese tech firms, stood out at the exhibition.

SAIC and Audi unveiled the AUDI E5 Sportback, the first mass-produced model developed through their deepened collaboration, while the Audi A5 Sportback, the world's first fuel vehicle equipped with Huawei's Qian Kun intelligent driving technology, was also showcased. Volkswagen Group and Horizon Robotics announced a deep cooperation in advanced intelligent driving technologies.

Intelligent mobility was a key theme of this year's show. On the first day, products from the entire AITO lineup and the latest technologies from Seres were presented. Seres introduced its innovative smart safety standards, setting a new benchmark in the industry. XPeng Motors announced plans to launch an AI-assisted driving safety training program designed to enhance user understanding and operational skills regarding AI driving technologies.

In comparison to previous shows, the exhibition area has expanded by 100,000 square meters, gathering top global suppliers like Bosch, ZF, and CATL, as well as nearly a hundred chip, semiconductor, radar, ADAS, and autonomous driving solution companies. Battery manufacturers like EVE Energy and Sunwoda are showcasing innovations such as sodium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries.

Black Sesame Intelligence, a leader in automotive computing chips, unveiled its industry-first "Safe Intelligent Foundation" solution at the Shanghai Auto Show. This solution, centered around the Wudang C1200 family of cross-domain integration chips, represents a milestone in the evolution of electronic and electrical architecture towards an integrated cockpit and driving experience. The company stated that this solution has been recognized by several international industry leaders and is entering mass production.

As an AI-focused automotive company, SenseTime showcased its R-UniAD generative driving technology at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, along with the "SenseTime Awakening 2.0," a near-real-time interactive 4D world model, setting new standards in intelligent driving. This advanced system features capabilities such as production-oriented data generation, complex scene recreation, and near-real-time interaction, significantly enhancing simulation training efficiency.

Pony.ai, a leading autonomous driving firm, globally launched its seventh-generation autonomous driving hardware and software system during the show, with three models from the seventh-generation Robotaxi family making their debut. This new system boasts 100% automotive-grade components, a 70% reduction in the overall cost of the autonomous driving kit compared to the previous generation, and is the first to achieve L4-level fully autonomous driving capabilities based on automotive-grade chips.

According to Peng Jun, co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai, the platform design of the seventh-generation autonomous driving system offers strong adaptability for various vehicle models. With its platform capabilities, the company has already used this system to develop three Robotaxi models that are currently undergoing road tests, demonstrating a truly "release and implementation" approach. The seventh-generation system is also expected to be utilized in their autonomous trucks.

Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, noted the increased presence of technology and supply chain companies at this year's Shanghai Auto Show. This increase highlights the accelerating integration of technology with the automotive industry in the era of intelligent connected new energy vehicles, particularly the deeper applications of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, which are becoming new focal points for industry innovation.

This year's Shanghai Auto Show has seen a notable influx of international guests, with many executives from multinational automotive companies closely observing Chinese intelligent electric vehicle products. At the Chery Automobile booth, nearly 5,000 overseas guests and partners attended, marking an unprecedented turnout. Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Holding Group Co., Ltd., stated that this show features the largest number of Chery brand displays and the most invitations extended to foreign guests to date, showcasing the company's international success.

During interviews, several leaders from Chinese automotive companies expressed that expanding globally is essential for Chinese automotive brands. For example, GAC Group's "Universal Pickup" concept vehicle made its global debut at this show. GAC Group Chairman and General Manager Feng Xingya told reporters that the company’s portfolio includes both passenger and commercial vehicles. "If we don't capture 10% of the global pickup market, it would be a missed opportunity. Our pickup is primarily focused on international markets, with domestic markets as a secondary consideration," he stated.

Dongfeng Motor also secured a significant overseas contract at the Shanghai Auto Show, signing a strategic cooperation agreement with Saudi Universal Motors Agencies (UMA) to establish Saudi Arabia as a core strategic hub for Dongfeng's expansion in the Middle East. By 2025, the partners plan to launch dedicated models to boost UMA's sales conversion rates and set a new standard for automotive channel operations in the region.

SAIC Group, which operates in its home environment, officially launched its overseas strategic plan 3.0—dubbed the "Glocal" strategy, combining global and local approaches. The company plans to build localized ecosystems and global automotive brands by dividing the global market into multiple regions and leveraging its advantages in smart and electric technologies to create personalized and intelligent product solutions.