Auto Shanghai showcases China’s fast-track transformation in auto industry

By Wang Zheng, People’s Daily
From April 23 to May 2, the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2025) was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Featuring nearly 1,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions, the event showcased over 100 new vehicle models and cutting-edge technologies.
At the exhibition, a new energy SUV capable of crab-walking, tank turns, and running on flat tires was displayed. This model is able to “sail” through water up to 80 centimeters deep for two hours.
There was an advanced assisted driving system that can autonomously navigate multi-floor underground parking garages and charge itself. A power battery with a volumetric energy density exceeding 1,000 Wh/L also caught great attention.
These are just a few of the highlights from the Auto Shanghai 2025, where Chinese electric vehicle makers and suppliers astonished visitors with their latest innovations in electrification and intelligence technologies.
“China’s leadership in electrification and intelligent technologies is leading the global auto industry transformation,” said Stephen Ma, chairman of Nissan China Management Committee and president of Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor.
“Nissan is leveraging China’s advantages in technology and resources to collaboratively develop innovative and competitive products,” he added.
A range of forward-looking driver-assist technologies were unveiled by mainstream automakers at the exhibition.
Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer GAC Aion partnered with ride-hailing platform DiDi to debut Robotaxi, a Level-4 autonomous model, which is scheduled for rollout by the end of this year and pilot operation in 2026.
Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Huawei launched its Qiankun ADS 4 system, which reduces end-to-end latency by 50%, improves traffic efficiency by 20%, and cuts hard braking incidents by 30%.
“Huawei has already completed 600 million kilometers of Level-3 expressway self-driving simulations and validations via our cloud-based World Engine. We’re now ready for commercial mass production of Level-3 autonomous driving,” said Jin Yuzhi, CEO of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution.
The “China speed” of innovation is also evident in the chip sector.
Chinese technology company Horizon Robotics unveiled its Journey 6P chip – currently the most powerful domestically produced intelligent driving chip with 560 TOPS of computing power – and launched China’s first full-stack Level-2 urban driver-assist system integrating both software and hardware. The system will debut in mass production on EXEED brand of Chinese carmaker Chery this September.
Auto Shanghai 2025 also marked a new chapter in joint ventures, as multinational automakers unveiled collaborative projects developed primarily in China. SAIC Volkswagen took the lead in developing Volkswagen’s first full-size extended-range electric vehicle SUV concept. Dongfeng Nissan spearheaded the creation of the pure-electric N7 sedan. Chinese automobile manufacturer Changan Automobile and Mazda co-developed the EZ-60, a new energy model under the Changan Mazda brand.
From “made in China for China” to “made in China for the world,” multinational carmakers are shifting their role in China from a manufacturing hub to global contributors of technological innovation.
Two years ago, Ola Kaellenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz, said that China’s pace of innovation is astonishing, particularly in electrification and digitalization, which is far ahead of the rest of the world. This remark has now been fully validated by the company’s latest progress in China.
At the Auto Shanghai 2025, Mercedes-Benz debuted its long-wheelbase, all-electric model CLA globally. The development of this model’s all-scenario driver-assist system was led by the carmaker’s Chinese R&D team, which took just 18 months. That speed would not have been possible without the support of the company’s two major R&D centers in Beijing and Shanghai and a local team of over 2,000 engineers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was ubiquitous at the Auto Shanghai 2025. From smart cabins redefining human-vehicle interaction, to integrated driver-assist systems breaking through application boundaries, and to large models powering end-to-end business innovation, a new vision with AI-driven intelligent vehicles serving as the neural hub is becoming clear in the wave of auto industry’s transformation.
BMW, following a strategic partnership with Alibaba on large language models and the launch of an AI agent developed by its China-based R&D team, announced further integration with DeepSeek to strengthen its AI ecosystem in China.
Dongfeng Motor exhibited an enterprise-grade large model. With AI-powered design assistants, coding copilots, and simulation tools, the model cuts new vehicle development cycles by over 35% and reduces collaboration costs by 30%.
Gan Jiayue, CEO of Chinese automobile giant Geely Auto Group, said that the company has integrated AI across its entire smart vehicle ecosystem, from architecture and powertrain to chassis, cabin, and driver assistance.
It has also deeply embedded AI into the entire value chain from product development and manufacturing to after-sales service, to deliver a truly intelligent, all-scenario user experience, he added.
Li Xianjun, director of the automotive development research center at Tsinghua University’s School of Vehicle and Mobility, noted that AI-powered electrification and intelligent technologies are accelerating disruptive innovation in the auto sector.
He urged automakers to rapidly formulate AI-driven strategies and build new organizational systems with innovative mechanisms, processes, talent, and culture to speed up their transformation.