In Shanghai, the Chinese show their muscles and revive the desire to play with cars

SHANGHAI (CHINA) - From land of conquest to country of conquerors. It is enough to go back in time, a decade or so not more, and remember what the Chinese car shows were like, with Beijing and Shanghai alternating. Car shows that to call obscene and backward was a compliment, Cinderellas in the midst of modern and technologically advanced European models (but made in China by the age-old obligation of 51% joint ventures with local partners). And Chinese shows were the stage for global launches (the VW Beetle and the Mercedes A-Class prototype in 2011).

Ten years on, the 21st Shanghai Auto Show 2025 (open until 2 May) confirms, if ever there was a need, that everything has changed: automotive geopolitics as we knew it no longer exists, with a diesel gate behind us, a race towards electrics transforming the industry and now even the hurricane of duties grafting on a perfect storm. But what has changed above all is the Chinese product, refined in design, rich in technology and ideas that make European cars, especially German ones, seem backward and set in an ancient world. Certainly Omoda&Jaecoo, Byd or Xpeng may not have the heritage appeal of the German premium, but in the world's largest market (35 million units per year) Chinese brands now count (they have reached around 19 million).

And to regain ground in China, brands like Audi are launching models, the E5, without the four rings and with a different brand image. A sign of the times. Faced with advanced technologies (not only for electrics but also for hybrids, especially Reev-type ones), quality products with features designed to astonish (think of the impossible manoeuvres of the Denza, the Byd brand that launched the anti-Porsche Z supercar), European brands must understand that the rules of the game have changed. And into the car comes artificial intelligence such as the all-Chinese DeepSeek and a whole series of solutions aimed at the gamification of the car.

In the 300,000 square metres of the Shanghai motor show, the slogan of Chery's Icar brand is 'Born to play', which unveils the V23 off-roader, embodying the idea of the car created to play with examples covered in fabric and fur, in perfect design week style. Omoda&Jaecoo, a brand launched in the European market, is presenting the Omoda 3, a crossover with sculpted lines that will be offered during 2026, at the tail end of the Shanghai show. Joining the newcomer at the show will be the Jaecoo 5 EV, Omoda 5 Super Hybrid and Omoda 7 Super Hybrid.

Moving on to another Chinese giant that has already arrived in Europe, BYD, which in Shanghai presents updates to its Ocean S range and introduces the Denza Z. MG debuts the all-new Cyber X electric suv, seeking to appeal to a young audience with its elegant and technological design. Among the German brands, Volkswagen presents Volkswagen with seven previews, including concepts made in joint venture with three Chinese giants, Saic, Anhui and Faw. And, among the Germans, Mercedes is also present with the Vision V show car anticipating the Limousine version of the electric van. What is the lesson of this 2025 edition of the Shanghai Motor Show? Simple: duties, even European ones, will not stop the advance of Chinese cars and with greater speed than the Japanese and Koreans we will see Chinese models made in Europe. And that will be normal.