Shanghai - The 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition opened on April 23, featuring nearly 1,000 top Chinese and international companies, including Sony and Intel. Over 100 new vehicle models made their global debut.
Automakers spotlight flying cars and robots
At the auto show, cars are no longer the sole focus. Non-automotive technologies, such as humanoid robots and flying vehicles, stole the spotlight, especially at the booths of top Chinese NEV makers like Changan, Chery, and XPeng.
At Changan's booth, a humanoid robot drew a crowd with its handshakes and greetings, even getting visitors to dance along. What was once exclusive to high-tech exhibitions is now a highlight of the auto show.
On April 23, at Auto Shanghai 2025, visitors danced with Changan's humanoid robot at the company's booth. (Photo/Luo Huxin)
According to Zhu Huarong, Chairman of Changan Automobile, the company plans to begin mass production of humanoid robots by 2028. Over the next decade, Changan will invest 200 billion yuan into new automotive technologies and expand its R&D team by over 10,000 personnel.
On April 23 at Auto Shanghai 2025, Changan Chairman Zhu Huarong gave a speech at the Changan booth. (Photo/Changan)
XPeng's AI-powered humanoid robot, "Iron," made its debut at the car show, with visitors waving at it. Standing 178 cm tall and weighing 70 kg, Iron features 22 degrees of freedom and human-like hands. CEO He Xiaopeng announced that Iron has entered factory testing, aiming for large-scale production by 2026.
Chery showcased its self-developed humanoid robot, Mornine Gen-1, which features an even more lifelike appearance than those presented by Changan and XPeng. Staff tested their humanoid robot, highlighting its multimodal environmental sensing and domain-specific Q&A capabilities, making it ideal for car sales consulting or mall guidance.
On April 23, at Auto Shanghai 2025, Changan's flying car attracted foreign visitors to take photos and experience it up close. (Photo/Luo Huxin)
Flying vehicles captured attention with their bold vision for future mobility. At Changan's booth, a passenger eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, developed in collaboration with aviation firm EHang, was showcased. The vehicle offers a 30 km range, a top speed of 130 km/h, and supports autonomous flight.
At Chery’s booth, a triplane-wing hybrid flying car drew crowds. Featuring a modular design, it can switch seamlessly between autonomous flight and ground driving modes, making it ideal for short urban commutes and vertical take-off and landing.
XPeng showcased its "Land Aircraft Carrier," a flying car that combines a land vehicle and a manned eVTOL aircraft stowed in the car's rear compartment. It's designed for daily commuting, outdoor exploration, low-altitude tourism, and emergency services.
According to Tianxing He, Vice President of EHang, rapid advancements in AI and robotics are unlocking vast opportunities in the markets for humanoid and low-altitude aviation. GGII projects that China’s humanoid robot market will grow from 2.4 billion yuan in 2025 to over 64 billion yuan by 2030. Additionally, CCID Consulting reports that China’s low-altitude economy reached 670.25 billion yuan in 2024.
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AVATR staff highlighted the fierce competition in the NEV market, pushing automakers to explore new business frontiers. Data from the China Automobile Dealer Association reveals that the average discount on new NEV models in 2024 reached 18,000 yuan, while profit margins in the auto industry fell to 4.3%.
XPeng staff said that the company’s foray into robotics is a natural extension of its existing AI R&D infrastructure. Robotics and low-altitude aviation offer new growth opportunities and share common technological ground with AI and electrification, making them accessible transition areas for carmakers.
This fierce competition also results in tech firms increasing their presence in the auto industry. Richard Jin, CEO of Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution Business Unit, revealed that over 80% of Chinese automakers utilize Huawei’s smart assisted driving technology. Ahead of the show, Huawei unveiled its new ADS 4.0 system.
Global brands are also emphasizing their commitment to China’s evolving market. Mercedes-Benz presented its all-electric sedan, the CL, according to the staff at Benz, which is specially adapted for Chinese consumers with intelligent assisted driving features and voice control.
On April 23, at Auto Shanghai 2025, Mercedes-Benz's electric sedan, the CLA, drew crowds of onlookers to its booth. (Photo/Luo Huxin)
For the first time since 2002, Korean car brands were notably absent from the list. In contrast, Japanese and German brands strengthened their localization efforts, highlighting China's significance in their global strategies.