The ongoing 2025 Shanghai auto show has become a battleground for global auto brands looking to make their mark in China’s smart new energy vehicle (NEV) market. According to a recent research note from Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin, international auto brands are leveraging China’s NEV technology to compete with local brands that have long dominated the market.
Chinese automakers have been at the forefront of developing smart NEV product lines, but global brands have now caught up and are showcasing a variety of smart NEV products at the Shanghai auto show. These global brands are tapping into Chinese partners’ NEV vehicle platform technologies and third-party Chinese suppliers’ expertise in intelligent vehicle features such as intelligent cockpits and autonomous driving.
One standout at the show is Volkswagen’s ID. EVO all-electric SUV, which is based on Xpeng’s G9 electric SUV technology and features 800V high-voltage fast charging and urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) capabilities. SAIC Audi’s E5 Sportback, Changan Mazda’s EZ-60 SUV, and Dongfeng Nissan’s N7 all-electric sedan are also making waves at the event.
SAIC Volkswagen is showcasing the ID. ERA full-size extended-range SUV, while FAW Volkswagen is presenting the ID. AURA pure electric sedan. SAIC Audi’s E5 Sportback is built on the advanced digitized platform (ADP) technology, boasting a new-product development cycle of only 18 months.
SAIC-GM Buick is unveiling its ENCASA MPV and two precursor models for the sedan and SUV segments, all based on the China-tailored “Xiaoyao” platform. Changan Mazda’s EZ-60 offers both an all-electric version and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version, while Dongfeng Nissan’s N7 is based on the modular NEV architecture and “Quantum architecture 2.0” NEV technology.
GAC Toyota’s bz3X all-electric SUV, Cadillac’s Vistiq equipped with Nvidia’s Orin-X chip, and GAC-Toyota and FAW-Toyota’s electric models are also turning heads at the show. Honda and Dongfeng Nissan are incorporating Huawei’s smart cockpit component into their new products.
The biennial Shanghai auto show, which began on April 23 and runs until May 2, boasts nearly 1,000 companies from 26 countries and regions participating, with a total exhibition area exceeding 360,000 square meters. The event serves as a platform for showcasing the latest innovations in the automotive industry and highlighting the fierce competition in China’s smart NEV market.
