Analytical Preview: What to Expect at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show

In-depth analysis of what’s coming to Shanghai Auto Show 2025 — key electric vehicle debuts, tech shifts, and how Chinese brands are reshaping the global auto market.

As traditional auto shows in Europe and Australia shrink or vanish, Shanghai is positioning itself as the heartbeat of the global auto industry. With over 100 participating brands — more than 50 of them Chinese — and 12 enormous exhibition halls, the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show offers more than just new models. It’s a showcase of intent: China wants to lead the automotive future.

A New Global Epicenter

Running from April 23 to May 5, the Shanghai show’s scale is unrivaled. Once-competing venues like Geneva or Paris have lost their edge. In contrast, Shanghai’s vast layout — resembling a futuristic city under one roof — creates a platform not only for major Chinese players like BYD, ZEEKR, and NIO, but also for global legacy brands trying to keep up.

The event is structured to maximize impact: two media days, two semi-professional days, and extensive public access. Crowds flock not just for cars, but for tech, influencers, and spectacle.

China’s Auto Giants Set the Pace

BYD continues to dominate headlines. After launching around 10 models in early 2025 alone, the company shows no signs of slowing down. Among the highlights: ultra-fast-charging variants like the L and Tang L, the Cine05 SUV potentially aimed at global markets, and the CEO 6 Wagon. ZEEKR’s sport-focused 007 GT shooting brake and their flagship SUV 9X reflect the brand’s commitment to bold design and premium positioning.

Denza is preparing a sleek coupe reminiscent of the Porsche 911. Yet questions remain: will it debut under the Denza name or the Fang Cheng Bao brand — the latter being off-road-focused, making it an odd fit for a sports coupe. Meanwhile, Changan’s premium sub-brand Avatar might introduce a convertible variant of the 06 — a rare move in China's EV segment.

Tech and Startups Redefine Expectations

Not all innovation comes from giants. Chinese EV startup SSC is turning heads with an electric sports car channeling Lancia Stratos DNA — rumored to be developed with support from major tech firms like Xiaomi or Huawei. Smart, the once-iconic city car brand, may unveil a modern two-seater concept if it can clear increasingly tough safety standards. While the company has moved toward larger vehicles, internal conversations hint at a desire to return to compact urban roots.

Tech giant Huawei, meanwhile, is set to expand its HIMAR alliance — a collection of high-tech auto brands — through a new collaboration with SAIC. This next vehicle, a youthful SUV packed with Huawei’s signature displays, processors, and sound systems, could become a benchmark for software-defined vehicles in the mainstream segment.

Western Brands React — Cautiously

European automakers are present, but pacing themselves. Audi plans to reveal a production-ready shooting brake EV built on a SAIC platform. Mercedes may debut the electric CLA, which promises notable range and a more youthful design language. BMW and Volkswagen continue to talk electrification, but their rate of release feels hesitant next to the breakneck speed of Chinese competitors.

Volkswagen’s partnership with Xpeng — a key part of its attempt to reboot tech credibility — may bear fruit with a co-developed model reveal. Still, the German giant must prove it can move beyond outdated UI choices and reclaim its reputation for innovation.

Japan and Korea Find Their Place

Toyota remains cautious in its electrification journey. Its BZ3X, essentially a rebadged Chinese model, offers affordability but little originality. Hyundai is working from its new Shanghai R&D hub, with the potential launch of the bold-looking Insteroid — a model whose name may raise eyebrows, but whose design aims to intrigue.

NIO’s Ambitious Gamble

Among China’s leading EV brands, NIO faces the steepest challenges. Its battery swap infrastructure — once a headline innovation — is now under logistical pressure. Multiple battery sizes across three brand portfolios (NIO, Onvo, and Firefly) require ongoing station upgrades, draining resources. Competitors like Xpeng have simplified their strategies, leaving NIO at a crossroads: innovate further or consolidate to survive.

A Glimpse of the Future

Shanghai Auto Show 2025 isn’t just a parade of vehicles. It’s a mirror reflecting the auto industry’s trajectory. Chinese automakers are scaling fast, integrating cutting-edge tech, and exploring daring formats. Western and Japanese brands may still hold prestige, but in pace, ambition, and presence, China is rewriting the rules.

As the industry teeters between EVs, hybrids, and software-driven cars, one thing is clear: Shanghai is no longer just watching the future — it’s building it.