Over 100 New Models and 1,000 Companies Gather in Shanghai! The 2025 Shanghai Auto Show Sparks an “Intelligent-Electric” Wave, Revealing the Industry’s Future “Survival Code”

April 23, 2025

The 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Shanghai Auto Show) grandly opened today, becoming a compass for China’s fiercely competitive and complex automotive market.

With an exhibition area equivalent to 50 football fields and participation from 1,000 companies across 26 countries, industry insiders describe this year’s event as superficially a new car feast but fundamentally the most intense “beachhead battle” in the intelligent EV era.

According to MIIT data, China’s L2 ADAS penetration rate reached 65% in Q1 2025, forcing all players to transform PPT technologies into tangible user experiences. The show reflects the industry’s harshest survival rule: electrification is the entry ticket, intelligence is the lifeline, and Chinese consumers have become the ultimate judges of global technology roadmaps.

Notably, a strategic shift is emerging—Chinese-developed smart cockpits are being reverse-exported globally. Many joint ventures are accelerating localization strategies, going all-in on smart driving and cockpit systems. The new era’s rule is clear: either relocate R&D centers to China or risk being eliminated from the market.

Domestic Brands Showcase Intelligent-Electric Prowess

Chinese automakers unanimously highlighted intelligent-electric technologies as core competencies:

• SAIC President Jia Jianxu outlined electrification plans across brands including IM Motors, Roewe, MG, Maxus, and Wuling. The Roewe D6 EV debuted with prices starting at 79,800 yuan after discounts.
• Dongfeng launched its “Tianyuan Intelligent” technology brand, offering ADAS solutions from L2 to L5 and AI-powered cockpits integrating DeepSeek and Doubao models.
• BYD showcased its ADAS system covering 100,000-200,000 yuan models, while the upgraded Yangwang U8 debuted new autonomous driving and cockpit systems.
• XPeng announced an AI driving safety training program to enhance user awareness.

New model launches dominated the show: NIO’s sub-brand Ledao unveiled the L90 (Q3 delivery); Li Auto debuted the MEGA and L6; Hongqi launched the TianGong 06 PHEV (starting at 159,800 yuan) and globally premiered the H9/HS9 sedans/SUVs plus its first luxury off-roader; Great Wall Motors introduced hybrid pickup trucks.

Joint Ventures Accelerate Localization

Joint ventures prioritized catching up in intelligent-electrification:

• Volkswagen displayed 50 models including 7 global debuts (5 next-gen connected cars), with CEO Oliver Blume declaring full integration into China’s digital ecosystem.
• Cadillac unveiled the LYRIQ-V performance EV and announced hidden LiDAR technology for production models.
• Porsche upgraded its China R&D center, consolidating local development/procurement/quality control.
• Nissan globally debuted the Frontier Pro PHEV pickup—its first China-designed global model—with plans for 9 new NEVs by 2027.

Supply Chain Focuses on Autonomous Driving

Suppliers showcased breakthroughs:

• Bosch plans to deploy end-to-end ADAS models by year-end, with 5 Chinese OEM projects launching in 2025.
• Semiconductor firm SemiDrive launched the X10 AI cockpit chip (2026 production).
• ZF demonstrated integrated chassis systems combining AI models with cost-effective sensors.
• Sensetime’s UniAD end-to-end solution will enter mass production with Dongfeng in Q4.

Battery innovations included CATL’s “Xiaoyao Dual-Core Battery,” EVE Energy’s modular “Omni Battery,” and Sunwoda’s “Smart Cell 2.0” BMS.

Marking its 40th anniversary, the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show has evolved from a “technology window” for imported models to the global launchpad for intelligent-connected vehicles, symbolizing China’s transformation from technology follower to innovation leader in the mobility revolution.