At Auto Shanghai 2025, Chinese automakers showcased a diverse array of innovations, emphasizing advancements in electric vehicles (EVs), intelligent technologies, and global market strategies. Here’s an overview of key highlights:
BYD,currently the world’s leading EV manufacturer, took a measured approach at the show. They unveiled models that target specific niches, rather than a broad new model range.
The Yangwang U8L is an extended version of the large luxury SUV from BYD’s premium division. The U8L has been stretched by 20 cm to offer a more spacious and opulent six-seat configuration, with four individual rear seats.
The U8L offers a three-row, six-seat layout, providing ample space for passengers. The second-row seats are designed to be spacious and comfortable, while the third-row seats offer additional seating capacity without compromising on comfort. The interior is crafted with high-quality materials, including Nappa leather upholstery, ensuring a luxurious feel throughout the cabin. The design emphasizes elegance and sophistication, aligning with the vehicle’s premium positioning.
The Seal 06 DM-i wagon is a new plug-in hybrid estate that expands the company’s Ocean Series lineup. It keeps the ‘Ocean’ styling while enhancing versatility with a longer rear section for increased cargo space.
Embracing BYD’s ‘Ocean Aesthetics’, the cabin features flowing lines and a minimalist layout, creating a serene driving environment. A prominent curved OLED touchscreen serves as the central hub for connectivity, infotainment, and driver assistance systems, enhancing user interaction.
A big sunrooffloods the interior with natural light, contributing to an airy and open ambiance.
High-quality materials are used throughout the cabin, offering a premium tactile experience and elevating overall comfort and ergonomically designed seats provide ample support, ensuring comfort during extended journeys.
BYD also announced plans to put up thousands of new charging stations across China. This initiative aims to bolster the domestic EV infrastructure and support BYD’s expansion into international markets)
Nio highlighted luxury and innovation by showcasing the interiors of their three brands: Nio, Onvo, and Firefly. Here’s a focused look at the interior features of their latest models:
The Nio ET9stands out with its ultra-luxurious four-seat configuration, emphasizing comfort and advanced technology. It features a full-length executive center console crafted from a single piece of sycamore wood, housing features like fold-out tables with vanity mirrors, wireless chargers, and a 10-liter temperature-controlled drawer. A 4D digital cockpit, that synchronizes seat movements with media content.
There are Nappa leather seats with 14-layer foam construction, heating, ventilation, a 16-point hot stone massage, and customizable fragrance systems. Seats recline up to 135°, with leg and armrest heating.
A 48-inch 5K OLED screen spans the dashboard, complemented by a 15.6-inch center screen and dual 14.5-inch HDR rear screens. An AR head-up display provides additional driving information.
ALyra sound system with 35 speakers delivers 2,800 W of audio power, featuring Dolby Atmos compatibility and active noise cancellation. Its SkyRide Suspension is an intelligent chassis system integrating steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and full active suspension.
The Onvo L90 caters to families seeking spaciousness and practicality, with ample cabin space to accommodate family needs, intuitive controls and storage solutions to enhance daily usability. The L90 emphasizes passenger comfort with ergonomic seating and climate control systems.
The first model in Nio’s Firefly sub-brand offers a premium experience in a compact form: a modern dashboard with horizontal center screen and a minimalist design, aligning with Nio’s design language. Advanced safety includes nine airbags, including dual-chamber units and curtain airbags extending to the rear seats. Versatile storage involves a 92-liter frunk with drainage, and a rear cargo area expandable to 1,250 liters with fold-flat seats. The cabin also features twenty-seven storage compartments designed to accommodate various daily travel needs.
The new model comes equipped with Nio’s proprietary smart operating system, including the Lumo voice assistant capable of understanding complex commands. A 256-color ambient lighting system, 7.1 Dolby surround sound, and a custom ‘Forest Morning’ scent enhance the in-car environment.
Nio announced also the international launch of the Firefly brand, targeting 16 markets, including the Netherlands, Norway, and Costa Rica, focusing on compact smart EVs for urban mobility.
Xpeng unveiled significant updates to their vehicle lineup, emphasizing advancements in AI-driven technology and lower prices. The refreshed G6, a midsize electric SUV, debuted with over 80 improvements. The interior has a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment display powered by Qualcomm.
The interiors feature a minimalist design with a large central touchscreen and streamlined controls, a spacious front seating area with premium materials and a panoramic sunroof.
Xpeng introduced their proprietary Turing AI smart driving system, now standard across all G6 and G9 models. This system enables assisted autonomous driving on public roads without relying on lidar, instead using millimeter-wave radars and cameras.
Their experimental flying car, the AeroHT Voyager X2, drew significant attention.
The automaker also revealed plans to enter 60 international markets by 2025, aiming to revamp their product lineup to cater to global market needs.
Lynk & Co unveiled their flagship SUV, the 900, and showcased their latest innovations and design philosophies. The 900 is a premium PHEV SUV designed to compete in the large SUV segment.
Interior features includea spacious 2+2+2 seating layout, a 30-inch 6K central display powered by the Qualcomm and a minimalistic two-spoke steering wheel.
The vehicle supports features like navigate on autopilot (NOA) for both highways and urban roads. Second-row seats capable of 180° rotation, enhancing passenger comfort and connectivity. Innovative storage compartments, including a slide-out fridge accessible from the second row.
Beyond the vehicle launch, Lynk & Co’s booth, themed “Urban Playground,” showcased the brand’s commitment to innovation and user engagement).
The booth’s unique design earned it both the Muse Award and the French Design Award.
Lynk & Co merged with sister brand Zeekr in February 2025, forming the Zeekr Group. This merger aims to expand their global footprint, with plans to establish over 200 overseas stores by the end of the year, focusing on Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.
Geely’s Zeekr brand launched the 9X SUV, with a 400-km electric-only range, positioning it competitively against full EVs. This move aligns with China’s growing demand for long-range hybrid vehicles.
The Geely Galaxy Starship 7 EM-i was shown, as well. The dashboard architecture mirrors that of the E5 and e.MAS 7, but introduces a more symmetrical center console and revised HVAC vent placement. Multifunction controls and HVAC buttons have been repositioned lower down for improved ergonomics.
Changan‘s premium EV sub-brand, Deepal, unveiled their flagship model, the S09, marking its entry into the high-end NEV market. This full-size, six-seat SUV is designed to compete with established models like the Li Auto L9 and Aito M9.
The cabin features an AR-HUD from Huawei, a 15.6-inch OLED central touchscreen, and a 21.3-inch ceiling-mounted 3K screen for rear passengers. The front and second-row seats offer heating, ventilation, and eight-point massage functions. There’s a 10-liter refrigerated storage compartment and a movable center tunnel for enhanced passenger comfort.
The Leapmotor B01 made its world debut at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show as a sleek, tech-forward compact electric sedan. Positioned as a value-oriented alternative to models like the Tesla Model 3, it combines modern design, advanced technology, and competitive pricing.
The cabin boasts 88 per cent soft-touch materials, with color options in purple or grey, featuring cloud-textured leather and chrome accents.
A 14.6-inch, 2.5K touchscreen powered by Qualcomm serves as the central control unit, supporting over-the-air updates. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard across all trims and a 256-color ambient lighting system enhances the cabin’s atmosphere.
Aion
Aion showed their latest robotaxi.
Seres introduced the AITO M8, developed in cooperation with Huawei, expanding the brand’s lineup to four models. The company emphasized their ‘Intelligent Safety ecosystem’, aiming to redefine luxury mobility with a focus on safety and smart features. Seres also announced partnerships with distributors from the UAE, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Mongolia, signaling global expansion efforts.
The Voyah Dreamer Shanhe is a luxury electric MPV, emphasizing the brand’s focus on intelligent and premium electric mobility.
The Hongqi Tiangong 06 is a luxury SUV, and Honqi announced a target of 500,000 vehicle sales in 2025, with half expected to come from new energy vehicles.
GAC showcased models like the Trumpchi M8 Qiankun PHEV and the Trumpchi Xiangwang S9, highlighting their advancements in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies.
Chery introduced the Fulwin A9 and Tiggo 9 L, focusing on expanding their electric vehicle lineup.
Great Wall Motor presented the Inest 4.0 concept and the Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T, emphasizing their focus on intelligent and sustainable mobility solutions.
Volkswagen showed (from left) the concept vehicles ID.EVO (with Anhui), ID.AURA (with FAW) and ID.ERA (with SAIC).
Audi used Shanghai for five world-premieres and a China-exclusive sub-brand, without the four rings. Audi is sending a clear signal: legacy is not a constraint, relevance is the priority.
