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Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
China dominates global auto stage at Shanghai expo with EVs, robots, and flying cars
Listen to article China has sent a powerful signal to the world at the Shanghai Auto Show — the largest automobile exhibition on the planet — that it's not just keeping pace in the electric vehicle race, it's leading it. As nearly 1,000 global exhibitors gathered this week under the lights of the sprawling Shanghai convention centre, the spotlight firmly remained on Chinese automakers. From humanoid robots to concept flying cars, the message was clear: China's vision of the future is already in motion. BYD, now the world's top EV manufacturer after surpassing Tesla, unveiled a sweeping lineup of innovations, including five new Ocean series models, a luxury SUV from its Yangwang brand, and a futuristic sports car under Denza. With record-breaking sales and consistent revenue growth, BYD is fast cementing its position as a dominant force in global automotive markets. Fellow Chinese brand Xpeng pushed the envelope even further, attracting crowds with a humanoid robot and a prototype flying car. Their display signaled a deeper shift in priorities — from just selling EVs to building a full spectrum of high-tech mobility solutions. While Chinese firms embraced the future, foreign manufacturers sought to defend their ground. Stefan Rosen, head of design at Lynk & Co — a venture between China's Geely and Sweden's Volvo — acknowledged the gap. 'The industry is led through China,' he said, reflecting the growing consensus that innovation in the sector is no longer rooted in Europe or the US. With rising trade tensions and shifting tariffs challenging global supply chains, this year's Shanghai Auto Show wasn't just an exhibition — it was a turning point. And for now, the road ahead appears to lead straight through China.
Daily Tribune
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Auto Shanghai showcases new EV era
The world's largest auto expo opened its doors yesterday in Shanghai, showcasing the new electric world order even as mounting trade barriers risk dampening China's global ambitions. With nearly 1,000 exhibitors present, foreign carmakers are raring to show they can keep pace with the ultra-competitive Chinese firms that dominate the sector's electric frontier. Beijing's historic backing of EV and hybrid development has seen the domestic market flourish, with firms on Wednesday taking the opportunity to demonstrate cutting edge technology and sophisticated design. '(Chinese brands) are really on the forefront of pushing the technology now, and have been for a few years,' said Stefan Rosen, the head of design for Lynk & Co, a joint venture between China's Geely and Volvo. 'So, of course, I know that (foreign firms) are trying to catch up... but I would say still the industry is led through China right now,' he told AFP. Huge crowds gathered at domestic champion BYD's booth as it unveiled five new Ocean series cars, as well as a luxury SUV under its sub-brand Yangwang, and a concept sports car under another, Denza. BYD has enjoyed a giddy few months of surging sales after annual revenue surged in 2024, eclipsing its rival, US titan Tesla -- which is not present at the show. Others exhibiting range from state-owned behemoths, startups such as Nio and Xpeng, tech giants with skin in the game such as Huawei, and consumer electronics-turned-car company Xiaomi. The domestic contest has pushed Chinese companies to develop faster and fostered technological innovation. Xpeng unveiled AI battery technology it said would deliver a 420-kilometre (260-mile) range in just 10 minutes, the latest in a slew of recent fast charging announcements from BYD and battery giant CATL. However, the effect of the crowded market on individual companies can be harsh -- some startups have already gone bust, while brands including SAIC Motor, BYD and Geely are engaged in a brutal price war. 'Not every player here will ultimately survive because the criteria to succeed is much higher than before,' Xpeng's president Brian Gu told AFP on Wednesday.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
China powers ahead in EV race at Shanghai motor expo
SHANGHAI: The world's largest auto expo opened its doors Wednesday in Shanghai, showcasing the new electric world order even as mounting trade barriers risk dampening China's global ambitions. With nearly 1,000 exhibitors present, foreign carmakers are raring to show they can keep pace with the ultra-competitive Chinese firms that dominate the sector's electric frontier. Beijing's historic backing of EV and hybrid development has seen the domestic market flourish, with firms on Wednesday taking the opportunity to demonstrate cutting edge technology and sophisticated design. "(Chinese brands) are really on the forefront of pushing the technology now, and have been for a few years," said Stefan Rosen, the head of design for Lynk & Co, a joint venture between China's Geely and Volvo. "I know that (foreign firms) are trying to catch up... but I would say still the industry is led through China," he told AFP. Huge crowds gathered at domestic champion BYD's booth as it unveiled five new Ocean series cars, as well as a luxury SUV under its sub-brand Yangwang, and a concept sports car under another, Denza. BYD has enjoyed a giddy few months of surging sales after annual revenue surged in 2024, eclipsing its rival, US titan Tesla, which is not present at the show. Others exhibiting range from state-owned behemoths, startups such as Nio and Li Auto, tech giants with skin in the game such as Huawei, and consumer electronics-turned-car company Xiaomi. Blaring press conferences touted advancements in fast charging, intelligent driving systems, and personalised luxury as influencers, journalists and business people wandered through the vast exhibition centre. Vying to shore up sliding sales in a market they used to dominate, German companies on Wednesday pitched themselves as building cars "in China for China." Volkswagen, the largest foreign group operating in the country, unveiled a series of new electric vehicles and a driver assistance system developed especially for the Chinese digital ecosystem. The group says it will launch more than 20 electric and hybrid models for the country by 2027. At the BMW booth, a foreign executive conducted a conversation in Mandarin with an AI assistant, before CEO Oliver Zipse rolled onstage in a futuristic white SUV from the upcoming "Neue Klasse" series. A separate version specifically tailored for China will be launched next year. "At BMW we will continue to advocate for... open markets," Zipse said, adding that "global challenges require global cooperation" in an apparent reference to the current trade turmoil set in motion by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, told media that in 32 years of working in the auto industry, "I don't think I've experienced a higher level of complexity." He blamed "the mix between being in the middle of a transformation, and... a shifting geopolitical and economic and trade landscape." Beijing and Washington are at an impasse after Trump's tariff policy triggered a tit-for-tat escalation between the world's two largest economies, leading to staggeringly high levies on both sides. Since last year, Chinese carmakers have also faced extra duties from the European Union. "The tariff is having an impact on our business, mostly on profitability," said Xpeng's co-president Brian Gu. "But, you know, we have a long-term commitment. We need to find a way to compete." Nio's president Qin Lihong told AFP that for now, the firm had not tariff-adjusted European retail prices, meaning it had "essentially given up the majority of the margins." Long-term planning, patience and letting go of "unrealistic expectations of significant short-term growth" was key, he added. For the market as a whole, exports to Russia and the Middle East have helped cushion the tariff impacts, consultancy AlixPartners said Tuesday. And several carmakers told AFP on Wednesday that North America was not a target for them. "We want to prioritise the most important markets, which we have already entered," Xin Tianshu, CEO of Leapmotor International, said. However, there are other, internal speedbumps ahead. The cutthroat domestic market is likely to eventually defeat many of the country's dozens of carmakers. More broadly, China's post-pandemic recovery remains wobbly.
