Foreign and domestic automakers put the very best on show to woo Chinese dealers and drivers
Chevrolet's FNR concept Image: GM |
The annual motor show is host to more than 2,000 exhibitors and is China's flagship automotive event.
Carmakers are using the Shanghai Auto Show 2015 as an opportunity to highlight new designs and concepts geared towards increasingly selective Chinese consumers and dealers alike.
Chevrolet has unveiled a space-age autonomous driving concept as part of its FNR ("Find New Roads") initiative. The futuristic electric-powered pod has dual swing doors and attracted plenty of onlookers to the company's 38,000 square foot stand. Chevrolet recently declared ambitions to sell one million cars in China by 2020 and is betting on appealing to younger consumers to help it reach that goal.
Meanwhile, Lexus has released a bold-looking ES sedan for the US and Chinese market. The new sedan looks edgier and more aggressive than its predecessor and is also designed to appeal to younger consumers.
Hyundai is also launching its first gasoline-electric hybrid to be produced outside of South Korea at the show. The Sonata will face tough competition from domestic electric brands being produced by companies like Geely, which enjoy special purchase subsidies that are likely to appeal to price-conscious Chinese consumers.
While many remain anxious about overcapacity in the region, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn remains bullish on China. In a recent Bloomberg interview, Ghosn remarked "I don't think 6-7% growth is bad news." Indeed, if growth remained at that level, by the end of the decade annual sales would be some 35m units per year, more than double the company's current US market.