The 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai) kicked off at the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai on Wednesday. The event attracted nearly 1,000 leading automakers and supply chain enterprises from 26 countries and regions, with more than 100 new cars set to make their global premieres.
Inside the exhibition hall, the strong international participation was palpable. Beyond automakers, professionals from global auto part suppliers, dealers and distributors wandered among booths, engaging in discussions and exploring business opportunities. Journalists and influencers from around the world were busy livestreaming, enthusiastically introducing new models and technologies.
With the global vehicle industry buffeted by the US' protectionist 25 percent tariff on imported cars, Auto Shanghai 2025 carries even greater significance as a pivotal platform for international automakers to gain better development opportunities, a Chinese expert said.
Multinational car companies are actively utilizing the platform to showcase new products and technologies and announce new businesses plans for the Chinese market, signaling their solid confidence in China.
US carmaker Ford debuted the new F-150 Raptor and the Bronco Heritage Edition, and its booth, inspired by the concept of an outdoor theme park, created an immersive space blending outdoor experiences, the Global Times learned from the company.
"We're still very committed to the China market. Most of the products we sell in China we build here," Ryan Anderson, chief financial officer of Ford Motor China, told thepaper.cn during Auto Shanghai.
SAIC-GM, jointly funded by SAIC Motor Corp and US-based General Motors, told the Global Times that the company brought several new-energy models from the Buick and Cadillac brands to the auto show to adapt to the trend of electrification in China's auto market.
Nissan Motor will invest an additional 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) by the end of 2026 on the business, its China chief Stephen Ma said at the auto show on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The company would launch 10 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in China by the summer of 2027, according to the report.
Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association, told the Global Times that due to external economic uncertainties, the Auto Shanghai 2025 has emerged as a prime destination, offering industry professionals worldwide an invaluable opportunity to explore the latest models, exchange cutting-edge technologies, and seek out potential business partnerships and customers.
The show's success is bolstered by China's stable policy environment and robust economic growth. With a vibrant domestic market and a unique platform that attracts global attention, the Shanghai auto show has become a haven for international automotive exchanges, facilitating the industry's collective pursuit of innovation and growth, Zhang said.
In stark contrast to the stability and opportunities in the Chinese market, the US has imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on imported cars and threatened to impose an additional 25 percent duty on auto parts, causing significant uncertainty and damage for the auto industry.
Tesla on Tuesday reported a miss on the top and bottom lines in its first-quarter earnings report as automotive revenue plunged 20 percent year-on-year. Tesla relies on foreign suppliers for its energy business. The company said that "increasing tariffs may cause market volatility and near-term impacts to supply and demand," according to CNBC.
The Center for Automotive Research issued a new report showing that American automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis could see increased costs of more than $42 billion because of the 25 percent tariff.
For multinational automakers, actively participating in the Shanghai auto show offers them better opportunities to develop and expand in China, which can, in turn, help offset the sluggish performance in the US market, Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Cui noted that Washington's goal of promoting the return of manufacturing through tariffs faces huge challenges. The US auto industry has been deeply integrated into the global supply chain for a long time, and it is difficult to change the situation in the short term. The incomplete US domestic industrial structure has led to increased costs and decreased competitiveness, ultimately backfiring on US carmakers, Cui said.
At the Auto Shanghai 2025, major EU automakers also voiced strong opposition to tariffs.
Mercedes-Benz's chief executive Ola Källenius has warned that EU and US tariffs have fueled the highest "complexity" in three decades, according to the Financial Times. "I don't think I've experienced a higher level of complexity in my 32 years in the business," he was quoted by the Financial Times as saying.
Källenius also said the firm was urging the EU to find an "equitable solution" to create a level-playing field for China-made electric vehicles in Europe. "A conversation about a level playing field in an open market is always legitimate. But a pure tariff barrier is the crudest instrument you can apply," Källenius was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner also hit out at tariffs at the Auto Shanghai. "Tariffs are not the solution," he said, according to the Financial Times. "They hinder innovation and they make a false competition."
