The motor show might be a dying concept in Europe, but the 2023 Shanghai motor show is a dizzying reminder that they’re still crucial in the vast and hugely important Chinese market.
Officially called the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, but branded as Auto Shanghai, the scale of the event is hard to fathom: 320,000 square metres of exhibition space featuring more than 1000 exhibitors, and 150 press conferences showcasing more than 100 new cars - you can see all the most important below.
And even when you sift through the updates, variants, third-party conversions and Chinese debuts of previously-seen machines there are still some heavy hitters. The previous running of the show was held in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, with most European firms absent.
With restrictions in China lifted, those firms are back en masse, desperate to reconnect with the world’s biggest single car market. Polestar, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are among the firms to launch truly significant global models in the vast exhibition centre.
But the Chinese firms are absolutely ready for them, especially with a vast array of battery-electric vehicles. And you can forget any last vestige of Chinese firms production inferior or copycat cars: in design, powertrain and build quality, the best Chinese models are absolutely a match for their European counterparts; in terms of digital technology, they are often superior.
It helps, of course, that the Chinese government has spotted an opportunity with the switch to electrification, both to reduce its dependency on imported petrol and to accelerate its domestic car industry. Which is a reminder that, with China, there are important questions to consider in areas such as state control, censorship, human rights, geopolitics and more.
But strictly from an automotive viewpoint, you have to be impressed. Traverse the stands of Chinese giants such as BYD or Geely, start-up Nio, and you have to be impressed by the volume, scale and variety of cars they are now producing.
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I have lived a life of cars since I was born...that is a long time ago. I have been to or read about launches of cars for decades and my father took me to the 1959 Earls Court Motot Show which was filled with totally new cars and ideas. Reading this review of the Chinese version makes me realise that the history I knew is no longer relevant. We see the beginnings of cars as simply boxes to move around in but the scale is frightening. Today, buying diesel new is more than brave, a petrol is taking a chance, we are planning to save the entire globe by selling only EV's in just seven years time....but it is utterly pointless. Whatever the emissions of our cars in the U.K. may be, they are a fraction of the pollution now spewing from China as it sets course to destroy all other manufacturers. It does not matter what I buy, what my fears for children and their future is, nothing we do here in Europe will make a scrap of difference. The whole concept is out of control as Workd population explodes and there is no turning back now.
Of the cars offered...most are hideous, pointless, boring, odd or look dreadful. The prize winner is the gopping Lexus LM which is beyond description of ugly and ridiculous. The Chinese stuff appeals to them..not me.
I think time for we older enthusiasts to just give up our lifelong passion for cars..that dream is over..it is 2023 and the future is not for me......
Lets hope there are some forthcoming SUVs and coupe SUVs at this show.
MAybach EQS is PIMPIN'! Terrible photo doesn't do it justice. Viewed from the eyeline of an actual person it looks superb. Presence and style without pompous gimmickry like R-R and VW.