SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW
10 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 24 APRIL 2 019
C
hina’s car sales fell for
the 10th consecutive
month in March, pitching
the country’s growing
ranks of fledgling brands face
first into an unprecedented
headwind whipped up, in part,
by trade frictions with the US
and a continued slowing of the
global economy.
But if there were concerns
for the long-term health of
the Chinese car industry, it
certainly wasn’t evident at the
Shanghai motor show.
With business confidence inthe world’s largest car market
showing heartening signs of
a rebound, owing partly to
the government’s reduction
in sales tax, the mood within
the staggeringly vast halls
of the convention centre was
cautiously upbeat.
Despite the drop, China’s car
sales continue to far outstrip
those of any other country.
With many makers reducing
prices in light of the tax break,
expectations are that total
sales for 2019 will reflect 2018’s
at around 22.5 million.
Shanghai’s status as a show
with real international reach
meant that every key Chinese
brand, including the five state-
owned heavyweights of SAIC,
FAW, BAIC, Dongfeng and
Changan, all presented new
or improved production
models this year.
They were kept honest by
an ever more competitive
list of privately owned rivals
headed by the likes of Geely,GAC, Great Wall Motors,
BYD and Brilliance as well as
introductions by joint-venture
operations of European brands.
However, it was China’s
growing number of well-funded
EV start-ups that stole the
limelight – a great number of
which are based in and around
the sprawling metropolis of
Shanghai itself.
With promised ranges of
up to 373 miles and charging
times of less than 15 minutes,
China’s latest EVs have, it
seems, now breached the point
where they can compete head
to head with both western
EVs and petrol and diesel
equivalents.
From 5G connectivitysolutions to smart holographic
augmented reality displays,
autonomous tech and new
hydrogen-fuelled power units,
this year’s Shanghai motor
show proved beyond doubt that
China is a global automotive
force attracting the bestindustry talent. Gone are the
days of the so-called ‘copycat
cars’. As one seasoned
automotive industry official
opined, as BYD presented its
latest model: “Shanghai: it’s
the new Detroit.”
In March, sales of so-called
new-energy vehicles, which
include both plug-in hybrids
and pure-electric models,
jumped an astonishing
85.4% year on year to over
126,000 in China. According
to the China Passenger Car
Association, there are now
486 new-energy vehicle
manufacturers registered,
more than a threefold increase
on the number registered in
- Those already producing
hybrids and EVs are expected
to compete for 1.6m new-
energy vehicle sales this year.
GREG KABLE
China’s car firms in bullish mood
Nio ET reflects growing
influence of European
designers in China
Never mind the market slowdown: China’s car makers were rampant in Shanghai
NIO ET CONCEPT
Relative newcomer Nio showcased a concept said to be 80%
representative of a 2021 production electric saloon. The concept
makes use of a high-density nickel-cobalt-manganese battery
pack rather than the usual lithium ion set-up. Mated to a 268bhp
electric motor, it has a quoted range of up to 317 miles (NEDC). It
was penned by the original BMW i design team in Munich.
AIWAYS U7 ION
Shanghai-based Aiways has followed the Geneva debut of its U
Ion SUV with the U7 Ion. A mix of SUV and MPV, this EV features 12
screens inside and a self-learning AI robot that can move through
the cabin on a roof-mounted rail and perform tasks for occupants.
Design advisor Ken Okuyama told Autocar that it is one of two new
models being considered for production and a European roll-out.