The Chinese auto industry is on the verge of dominating the globe with its fast charging speed, long driving range, luxurious design, advanced technology, and massive production capacity.

People have always said that visiting China from the West feels like landing in a parallel universe. Most aspects of any major city feel familiar, but the essential elements are different. Western products or services have local alternatives here that are newer, bigger, faster, and better than those used in the West.

So it is with the Chinese auto industry. The most recent opportunity for European and American peers to be extremely surprised was the Shanghai Auto Show. This exhibition held at one of the largest convention centers in the world showcased approximately 1,400 vehicles from 26 countries and regions across 13 exhibition halls. Hundreds of models made their debut in front of about 1 million visitors.

In the eyes of Westerners, photos of the Shanghai Auto Show look like asking ChatGPT to recreate the glory days of previous auto shows. Anyone who has strolled through the spacious exhibition halls of Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit, or even Birmingham and marveled at the new cars will be familiar with such scenes. Here, there is an abundance of shiny metal and carbon fiber materials shaped into every imaginable size, form, and grade of car. But the logos and models are unfamiliar, with prices unbelievably low and performance parameters seemingly from another planet.

Brand names like Jetour, Denza, iCAR, Changan, Hongqi, and ZhiJie are unfamiliar to many people. As you continue forward, you'll catch a comforting glimpse of brands like Audi, Lotus, Buick, and Volkswagen, but the sense of familiarity is quickly replaced by a strong realization: they are no longer here at the Shanghai Auto Show as Western automotive leaders with a century of success guiding fledgling domestic enterprises. They are surrounded by younger, stronger, and more passionate competitors eager to leave their mark in the universe. A fierce competition is about to begin.

The electric vehicle technology unveiled by China in 2025 will undoubtedly keep Western brands awake at night. BYD's high-power charging system released at the Shanghai Auto Show can provide 400 kilometers of range after just 5 minutes of charging, with a peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts, which is ten times that of BMW MINI Cooper.

Domestic competitor CATL went further, launching a charging system with a power output of 1,300 kilowatts, capable of providing 520 kilometers of range after just 5 minutes of charging. It should be noted that the fastest-charging electric vehicles in Europe—such as the Porsche Taycan—have a maximum charging power of only 320 kilowatts.

Besides dazzling technology, Chinese automakers also focus on low-cost, small-sized models attractive to Europe, the UK, and emerging markets. Some quite decent electric vehicles—at least on paper—are expected to soon break below the 20,000 euro threshold (1 euro is approximately 8.10 yuan RMB). Established automotive brands like Volkswagen, Fiat, and Renault will also reach this level. However, with models like Volkswagen ID.1 not expected until 2027, cheaper models from Chinese brands such as Zero Motorcycles, LEPAS, and Firefly may quickly win over potential buyers.

Times have changed, and now it is the Western automakers who are forced to catch up. Audi unveiled its first mass-produced model under the sub-brand AUDI exclusively for China at the Shanghai Auto Show.

People tend to see Beijing's substantial investment in the Chinese auto industry as the main driver of its success. However, the narrowing—and in many cases surpassing—of the gap between China and Western automotive manufacturers is not merely due to capital and imitation. Chinese automakers have made wise talent acquisitions.

This is an automotive industry developing at an unprecedented pace. And what is most worrying is that it is no longer content to serve only its vast domestic market. Chinese brands are already making significant inroads into the Australian and European markets.

(Translated by Cao Weiguo)

The article was published on the website of Wired magazine on May 28, with the original title "The 2025 Shanghai Auto Show is not just an auto show; it is a warning to the West."

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510792417264550419/

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