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The Chinese automotive market has seen an exponential growth in the last couple of decades. It was not long ago, when the only mobility product we used to get from the Chinese market, was a three-wheeled rickshaw. But the Chinese automotive market made rapid progress, and is now the largest automobile market worldwide, both in terms of demand and supply.
In 2010, China overtook the US to become the biggest passenger car manufacturer in the world. Last year, China overtook the whole of Europe to become the biggest automotive market.
The biennial International Automobile Industry Exhibition, or Auto Shanghai, has been China’s leading automotive showpiece event. Started in 1985, the event is managed by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers; China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Shanghai Sub-Council and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Sub-Council.
The 19th edition of Auto Shanghai is being held from April 19-28, 2021. The first two days, reserved for the media, will see some global launches like the MG Cyberster and the Mercedes-Benz EQB.
It will be interesting to see how the global depression has affected the manufacturers around the world and how are they planning to get out of it. Auto Shanghai 2021 is a place, where manufacturers are showcasing what their future would look like.
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What To Expect?
One of the most awaited vehicles this time around is the MG Cyberster. Lexus, on the other hand, is going to unveil the updated ES and Honda is going to showcase its first EV prototype. Other than these, manufactures from other industries like heavy duty vehicles, are also expected to showcase their upcoming products.
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But the highlight of the show this year will be the exhibition of China’s developments in the mobility sector, including the country’s smart city initiatives and the growing integration of vehicle, road and urban infrastructure. Hitachi Astemo has lined up its advanced mobility solutions for display at this year’s show.
EVs Galore
Like the last time, most of the products to be showcased at Auto Shanghai 2021 are electric vehicles. Mercedes is showcasing their EQ line-up, including the newly launched EQS and the EQB. Ford is scheduled to unveil the China-manufactured Mustang Mach-E, and Buick is going to launch its extended wheelbase (EWB) version of the Envision called Envision Plus. This will have a longer wheelbase than the standard car by about 111.5 inch.
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Cadillac will launch the Lyric, which will again be an EV concept. From the eastern world, we will see an EV from Honda, the updated Nissan X-trail and the KIA EV6, apart from other products from the manufacturers.
Chinese Wall, a leading manufacturer of light-trucks, has announced it will introduce a replacement brand for full-size SUVs, called Tank. Geely Automobile Holdings, China’s largest producer of passenger vehicles, plans to announce a replacement EV brand Zeekr, with the primary product, a crossover, to be called the Zeekr 001.
SUVs Find Prominence
A deeper look at the launches and showcases at Auto Shanghai 2021 clearly highlights the trend of every brand moving towards being completely electrified in the next few years. Apart from EVs, the other prominent segment is the SUVs – showcasing a typical Chinese market scenario.
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On Day 1, some of the notable showcases include the Audi A6 E-Tron concept, which is to be launched by 2023, the Mercedes-Benz EQB, Toyota bZ4X concept SUV and Ford Evos. Apart from these global giants, there were many Chinese manufacturers like NIO and Hengchi, who showcased their EV concepts. On display are other Chinese start-ups, who are eying a pie of the EV market.
Apart from vehicle manufacturers, several global suppliers demonstrated new technologies. ZF introduced their next generation ZF ProAi, which according to the company has better computational power with up to 66% more teraOPS. It simultaneously consumes up to 70% less power (3 teraOPS per Watt on average), said the company. Continental and Schaeffler are some of the other major suppliers present at the show.
Wrap-Up
Ever since the pandemic started, Auto Shanghai 2021 has become the first auto show in the world to run physically. In order to effectively prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, tickets for this year’s show are electronic, and visitors are required to check-in with a legitimate ID and show a health QR code that may display individual COVID-19 test results, vaccination records and data on their visits to medium or high-risk regions.