Quick Take: Auto Shanghai 2025
- Adam Bernard
- Apr 24
- 6 min read
Although I wasn't fortunate enough to attend this event--one of the last truly global auto shows--there's been plenty of coverage, and I wanted to offer up some thoughts on some of the more notable debuts. Believe it or not, the first Shanghai Auto Show was held 40 years ago, and it's no exaggeration to say things have changed. A few common themes...
More and more China-only vehicles (which arguably works against the notion of global economies of scale)
Trucks and off-roading (already big in America but catching on in China)
Proliferation of brands (following the examples of Stellantis and VW Group)
Repositioning and evolution of existing brands
The Honda GT--in two variants, one for each of Honda's Chinese JV partners--follows the P7/S7 midsize SUVs launched last year, on the same eRWD/eAWD platform. It's a rather slick five-door with (for the GAC variant) Lamborghini-inspired lighting graphics. Both cars get a somewhat overwhelming six-screen interior (including the displays for the camera-based door mirrors). While this appears conceptually similar to the 0 Series Saloon, the hardware appears to be completely different, so it might be a bit redundant for Honda to even think about selling them in the US. But it does reflect Honda's increasingly willingness to push the boundaries on design, compared to the relatively conservative designs of years past.
If you think pickups are a uniquely American phenomenon, think again. Over the past couple of years, Chinese automakers have been showing a wide variety of (mostly electrified) pickups, both fullsize and midsize. Chery has now gone so far as to create a separate pickup brand, Himla (as in "Himalaya"--get it?), which will offer a portfolio of products in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The truck itself doesn't appear to offer anything that makes it stand out from the current crowd of midsize trucks, but it seems to be at least competitive--and it's going after a major profit center for Ford, GM, and Ram.
Sorry, but the purist in me will always see MG as a sports car brand. I know that, under the ownership of SAIC, they have done pretty well outside of China, due to a combination of competent products and strong brand recognition. So, while I think this CyberX "concept" (really, a thinly-disguised production vehicle) is pretty cool--including the low-profile pop-up headlamps--I flinch a bit when I see the MG badge on the front of a boxy SUV. And, personally, I think "CyberX" is the 2nd worst new car name--after "Cyberster"...
It's been fascinating to see 15-year-old Denza evolve from a mainstream, rather conventional new energy brand--a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes--to a wholly-owned premium brand under BYD. The Z is reportedly a concept but looks ready to take on Porsche and Ferrari, with the help of magnetorheological shocks that can change damping force in 10 milliseconds. The powertrain is likely to be shared with the larger Z9 GT: three motors, 952 hp. Denza was rather sparing with the specs, but the Z does feature steer-by-wire, which enables a foldaway steering wheel (for easier entry/exit).
Hongqi is another brand that's evolved, from high-end transportation for Chinese diplomats to a portfolio of electrified luxury cars and SUVs suitable for export. And, because everybody seems to either want an off-road capable vehicle or something that at least looks off-road capable, Hongqi is jumping on board with this unnamed Hummer/Land Rover/Wagoneer-inspired SUV. There's a lidar unit on the roof for automated driving and a four-motor EV setup that kicks it from 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds. Hongqi is asking the public to name it--and the winner reportedly gets one for free; I'm sure it will be better than Boaty McBoatface.
Although most of the big debuts in Shanghai were from Chinese brands, there was one notable "legacy" debut that's expected to be sold globally: the Lexus ES. Remember when the ES was the entry-level Lexus, back in 1990? Well, now it's bigger than a Tesla Model S or Lucid Air--just 4" shorter than the LS flagship--and every version is electrified. The design pretty much dispenses with the controversial spindle grille and picks up cues from the LF-ZL concept from 2023, with a dramatic character line down the side. The interior is more minimalist, now offering a passenger side display and bamboo trim. Power is either a 2.0L or 2.5L hybrid, or eFWD and eAWD variants. Unfortunately, the maximum power of 338 hp and maximum estimated 300-mile EPA range are rather small potatoes compared to other EVs out there (even non-luxury models)--and there's no word on charging speed. So, kudos for an attractive, contemporary design, but demerits for an underwhelming powertrain portfolio.
Another legacy brand had a big debut--but under a "new" brand, and only for China. You see, Audi is collaborating with SAIC to launch EVs under the AUDI brand--that's all caps, no rings, and I have no idea if you need to pronounce it differently from "Audi". The first vehicle in the portfolio is the E5 Sportback, similar in size and proportion to the new A6 e-tron--but on an SAIC-sourced, eRWD/eAWD 800V architecture. The specs look good (especially compared to the aforementioned Lexus ES): up to 360 miles (EPA equivalent), up to 776 hp, and about 170 miles of charge in 10 minutes. The E5 scraps the 'singleframe' grille for a unique, minimalist front end, and features a suite of lidar sensors, facial recognition, and a voice assistant developed by TikTok owner Bytedance. Very slick-looking, the marketing/brand rationale for this product eludes me.
Zeekr, part of the expanding Geely empire, seems to be serious about moving upmarket--and long-range hybrids. The 9X large luxury SUV seems to be wading into Rolls-Royce Cullinan territory, from its boxy silhouette to its big, chromed, rectangular grille. Expected to be priced from $68,000 to $136,000, the 2.0L turbo plug-in hybrid can go an amazing 180 miles (EPA equivalent) on a charge, and hits 0-100 km/h in about 3 seconds. It also features a dual-chamber air suspension (de rigueur in this class) and an astounding five lidar units to support automated driving.
With three JVs in place in China, the VW brand leveraged each partner to bring a concept to Shanghai, previewing a wave of 30 new models due in China by 2028. The ID Era, developed with SAIC, is a midsize, three-row SUV with an extended range EV configuration. In the middle is the ID Aura (via VW-FAW), a compact sedan that will use VW's new CMP (Compact Main Platform) being developed specifically for China. Finally, the ID Evo is a compact SUV developed with VW Anhui, with a state-of-the-art 800V system and Tesla/Rivian-style zonal electrical architecture. All three are due in production within 34 months--but, to be honest, these vehicles seem similar to models already in the VW portfolio, so helping the customer make sense of these crowded showrooms will be an unenviable challenge.
Finally, as the owner of a 1963 Riviera, there will always be a place in my heart for Buick--and they used the Shanghai show to launch their new sub-brand, Electra. Now, I know what you're thinking: all the people who remember Electra are here in America, not China. But, unfortunately, this is another China-only play, and will launch with a suitably large flagship sedan, a midsize SUV, and (because China loves luxury minivans) the Encasa minivan, with three more models to follow. All will use a new 900V multi-energy architecture called Xiao Yao, along with a new CATL-sourced LFP battery that can charge at a staggering 640kW. I'm not sure the new Electra GS (the sedan) has quite the presence of my Riviera, but the underlying technology seems pretty impressive.
So, there you have a taste of what was showcased at the sprawling Shanghai Auto Show. Although we saw signs of life at last fall's Paris Motor Show--and this fall's IAA in Munich looks to be rather interesting--I'm not sure any show outside of China will offer the breadth of manufacturers who took the floor in Shanghai this year. And, as we've seen, the Chinese automakers continue to advance--but, fortunately, most of the legacy players are not standing still.
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