Shanghai 2025 Motor Show
Shanghai kicks off the 2025 Motor Show today, and if you're wondering where the future of mobility is being written, it’s probably not Detroit or Stuttgart. With legacy OEMs struggling, China is now responsible for a jaw-dropping 80% of global plug-in sales, we are effectively watching the dress rehearsal for our own automotive futures.
There are 164 passenger car brands fighting for attention in China. That’s not a typo. While most won’t make it to British or European roads, the tide’s already turning, BYD, Omoda, and Geely are no longer exotic imports, they’re serious players on our streets.
Last year, China sold over 31 million vehicles. For context, that’s more than the US and EU combined. Any Western brand still treating China as a “foreign” market is already behind. Competing here isn’t optional, it’s critical. Especially if you want to fund the R&D required to survive this era of electrification, autonomy, and software-led everything.
Ignore this show at your peril. What happens in Shanghai won’t stay in Shanghai. So what’s caught our eye on the floor?
Let’s start with range anxiety, CATL announced dual core architecture that delivers a range of 932 miles on a single charge, and their second generation superfast charging battery with 497 miles range and 323 miles of range charged in just 5 minutes.
Yangwang’s 1180HP of bling. 24 Carat gold badges, emergency water flotation, stable driving even with a puncture, and a 360 degree turn on the spot.
Denza, BYD’s premium brand is looking to challenge the Porsche 911 with the launch of their Z at half the price. Whilst the lack of brand heritage may not persuade luxury buyers, it could tempt some of the many dreamers who aspire to the marquee.
Talking of tech companies, mobile phone manufacturer Xiaomi, launched the SU7 under a year ago. It took them just 119 days to deliver their first 100,000 cars, and another 119 days to deliver their second 100,000. Xiaomi's Human x Car x Home ecosystem connects all smart devices together. The car supports over 1,000 Xiaomi smart home devices for effortless integration with the vehicle, creating a robust CarIoT ecosystem.
Avatr isn’t a brand we know, but it’s coming to Europe. Taking on Tesla head to head, the 06, like many of the new Chinese vehicles, is fitted out with LIDAR and autonomous ready. Developed with Huawei, we’re seeing more vehicles developed as entertainment centres, challenging the traditional engineering companies that have dominated automotive.
Whilst we’re probably not going to see Nio in the UK in the near future, they’re expanding their presence across Europe, and their 420KM range Firefly priced under $17,000 it could challenge the VW ID3 and Fiat 500 as the urban vehicle. Nio’s battery swap technology, that gets rid of the need to charge the EV, has hit record levels in China, with 137,000 drive-through battery changes a day.
Mercedes-Benz revealed it’s new VISION concept MPV on the eve of the show. Expected to launch in 2026 with minimal design changes to the concept, Mercedes describes it as a ‘private VIP lounge’. With a 42 speaker sound system, the most futuristic feature is a glass partition between the driver and passenger areas which can be electronically frosted for privacy, and becomes part of a 65 inch projection system, with seven projectors hidden in the roof lining and floor for an immersive viewing experience. Who needs a house!
