The air in Shanghai feels thick and warm, as if the city itself churns with traffic exhaust. That detail aside, the environmental side of city driving fares better: internal combustion engines still push to stay in the flow, a scene once marked by blue plates that has mostly faded into memory. Six years ago, electrification was just gathering momentum in this megacity.
Today, a sizable portion of vehicles in the rebuilt metropolis wears green plates.
Hybrid options are popular, and they help owners while keeping traditional engines in use, much like Tesla models and their Chinese counterparts in various sizes. The city’s famed traffic jams along the Yan’an overpass from Pudong Airport to the TV tower and the Shanghai Tower, which stands at 623 meters, persist. At their base lie dozens of hotels that fill up ahead of a major motor show.
The exhibition center itself is laid out like a giant four-leaf clover with two-story pavilions. Chinese manufacturers dominate the Shanghai Auto Show with the sheer number of displays and debuts. A striking dress code accompanies the event’s innovations, with many exhibits featuring tablets in place of traditional devices, bold designs, and swinging metal door handles—a trend that echoes Land Rover’s bold styling choices.
Meanwhile, some of the world’s automotive giants at the show present a quieter aesthetic—classic door handles, restrained designs, and traditional dashboards—creating a clear contrast with the livelier Chinese-brand stands. It feels as if guests are visiting a festival in country robes, a visual dichotomy that highlights global and local flavors alike.
Chery
In a sense, the Shanghai Auto Show crystallized the central message from Chery International’s head, Zhang Guibing: a few years ago, many Chinese buyers preferred foreign cars for prestige, but those views have shifted. Local brands are now swiftly eroding foreign rivals on city streets.
Chery, the second-largest automaker by sales in China, is actively nurturing consumer patriotism. Its standout reveal in Shanghai was the Tiggo 9 D-CM plug-in hybrid. The interior leans toward luxury with white leather, metal and wood accents, premium audio, and a large multimedia screen, making it feel on par with European premium models such as the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Tiggo 9 D-CM is equipped with an all-wheel-drive system and a 254-horsepower powertrain, pairing an electric motor with the gasoline engine. Total output is high, and acceleration to 100 km/h is expected in about 4.3 seconds. In China, a variant with a conventional engine carries a price around two million rubles.
In Russia, this model is anticipated next year, with prices likely to rise beyond the Chinese tag.
Also this year, the Chery Arrizo 8 sedan—labeled as a “Camry replacement” by Chery’s Russian office—arrives in markets as a rechargeable hybrid. It blends an electric motor with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, delivering a modest electric range and a practical balance of power and efficiency.
Another debut is the TJ-1 crossover. Despite a rugged exterior, it remains a front-wheel-drive city car. In technology terms, it shares much with the Chery Tiggo 4 already sold in Russia. Official confirmation about a Russian entry is pending, but there is a possibility it could reach the market under the Omoda or Jetour brands.
Exeed
Exeed RX is slated for Russia, arriving as a hybrid with a traditional two-liter gasoline engine (around 252 hp) paired with all-wheel drive. Exeed’s other Shanghai premiere is the Sterra electric crossover, though the name will be used only for the Chinese market; elsewhere it will be called Exlantics.
The SUV features a substantial range of about 700 kilometers, and fast charging can add roughly 150 kilometers of range in just five minutes. The model is expected to appear in the Russian lineup.
Omoda
Omoda’s top-selling vehicle in Russia appears on the Shanghai floor as a five-seat electric crossover that closely mirrors the C5 SUV known to Russians in terms of appearance and equipment.
It is powered by a front-axle electric motor delivering 204 hp and 350 Nm, with an announced range of about 550 kilometers, though real-world figures may vary considerably.
Cool
The Dragon Brothers—Haval Xiaolong and Xiaolong Max—are introduced as a potential new sub-brand. Built on the Lemon platform, these hybrids use an environmentally friendly powertrain and all-wheel drive. The Xiaolong lineup sits between Jolion and Dargo in size, with the larger Xiaolong Max outgrowing the Haval F7. There are plans to bring these models to Russia as well.
Meanwhile, the second-generation Haval Dargo PHEV promises more interest for Russian buyers. Even as a hybrid, it retains the same fundamental design while offering a more harmonious look and a larger cabin due to an expanded trunk. Technology remains largely consistent with the Tank 300, but with more options and a bigger multimedia display.
GWM’s sub-brand Shanhai Poer showcased a hybrid pickup that leans toward the premium Tank 300 in equipment. The interior boasted expensive leather, aluminum accents, polished plastics, a large central multimedia screen, and a modern, lounge-like finish.
The showstopper was the GWM Poer Caber pickup 6X6, a hybrid three-axle truck with a 3-liter V6 engine delivering about 360 hp and an electric motor of unknown power, capable of sprinting to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds.
Geely
Geely at Shanghai showcased the L7 under the Galaxy family, signaling roughly a dozen models in four years. The lineup emphasizes hybrids or full electrics, with the Galaxy L7 pairing an electric motor with a 1.5-liter Volvo-sourced gasoline engine to produce around 390 hp, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in under seven seconds.
Dongfeng
Donfeng, through its Voyah sub-brand, unveiled the Zhuiguang sedan, a pure-electric model with dual motors delivering up to 510 hp and 730 Nm. The car features independent air suspension, a robust chassis, and strong performance. The Mengshi M-Hero is presented as a Chinese answer to the Hummer, built to withstand rugged, tactical use with a highly capable platform and four electric motors delivering well over 1000 hp combined, with pricing starting around $100,000.
Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co offers a wide array of crossovers, and rumors have swirled about bringing the brand to the Russian market with a subscription model evolving into a more traditional ownership approach. The Crossover 01 mirrors the Volvo XC40 in many ways, using a simple hybrid setup and a rechargeable PHEV. The brand also features a modern minivan with bold dimensions and a mix of petrol and hybrid configurations designed to appeal to corporate customers in large cities across Europe and Asia.
Aion
The Aion Hyper SSR coupe is noted for a remarkable 2.3-second sprint to 100 km/h. Its dimensions are comparable to a mid-range supercar, with an all-carbon fiber body and a pair of hyper-responsive doors. The cabin houses a dominant 15-inch multimedia display and a functional, if minimal, control layout. With an estimated price near 200 thousand dollars, Shanghai officials presented a fully serial model rather than a prototype.
JACK
JAC demonstrated the T8 pickup, equipped with a lavish camping setup on its bed and a concept Refine minivan at the center of the stand, signaling the company’s new design direction and capabilities.
In summary, the Shanghai Auto Show presents far more innovations than any single report can cover. The event showcases trends that resonate globally, and for the Russian market it remains a crucial platform where many future introductions first appear.