The 20th anniversary of Automechanika Shanghai closes

Ms Fiona Chiew, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “For 20 years, Automechanika Shanghai has continued to create channels for collaboration and communication. This year, the increase of participation, along with high levels of internationalism, reflects the growing status and deeper integration of the Chinese automotive industry with international markets. It is always a privilege to hear of such positive feedback from our customers, especially in their recognition of how we continue to leverage our past experiences to create new content and a stronger platform to meet current and future needs. Looking ahead, we will move with industry trends by updating our highlights and the variety of activities at the show to foster cooperation between domestic and overseas markets.”

Ms Li Zhang, General Manager of China National Machinery Industry International Co Ltd, said: “The show delivered on its idea of innovation and transformation towards a sustainable future throughout the week. Sustainable technologies were at the forefront of the show through the fringe programme events and special zones. With total vehicles sales and new energy vehicle sales within China expected to reach 31 million and 11.5 million units in 2024 respectively, innovative approaches are as crucial as ever. The fair acted as a valuable setting for gaining insights into these developments.”
Record breaking visitor numbers at the 20th anniversary event Automechanika Shanghai offered a gateway into the global automotive industry, with the scale of the show as an indicator of the market’s size and advancement. As such, participation soared this year to make up the largest edition yet.

The show saw 222,341 visitors from 181 countries and regions arrive through its doors. It represents a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year. The top ten overseas sources included Malaysia, India, South Korea, Türkiye, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and the UAE (in descending order).

At the same time, an impressive 6,763 companies, hailing from 40 countries and regions, brought the latest upgrades and innovations. It covered 17 pavilions from Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, and the US.
Key overseas exhibitors included BASF, Borgwarner, Bosch, Brembo, Continental, Dana, Forvia Hella, Goodyear, Hitachi Astemo, Niterra, SDS, Sensata, Total Energies, TUNAP, YAKIMA, and ZF.
In addition, Autel, Black Sesame, BOP, Bright, CALB, EAE, FAWAY, FAWER, HASCO POWERTRAIN COMPONENTS, HESAI, Horizon Robotics, Launch, New SORL, Qisheng Powertrain, Sanhua Automotive, Shedrive, Tuopu, and ZC Rubber Group were amongst the leading domestic exhibitors.

As such, the internationality of exhibiting companies illustrated Automechanika Shanghai’s platform, allowing both domestic and international companies to establish deeper connections with potential and existing partners.
Upgraded sectors generate positive reactions In response to significant changes in the automotive industry, the fair enhanced and expanded its major product sectors and specialised zones, creating new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

For example, Parts & Components encompassed six halls of the fairground, with a total of 3,540 exhibitors. Product displays and presentations from a number of the world’s top 100 companies in parts and components were crowd favourites.

• Bosch presented a thermal management system for new energy vehicles
• ZF exhibited their soon-to-be-launched Sachs Air Struts
• Continental displayed new brake fluid, ATE SecuBrake
• Hitachi Astemo demonstrated their advantages in engine and chassis design

Other top 100 companies included BASF, Forvia Hella, Sanhua Automotive and Tuopu. Furthermore, ARN, Feilong, Henglong Group, Qisheng Powertrain and Qingling Motors participated at the show for the first time.
Elsewhere, the New Energy & Connectivity sector in Hall 5.1 debuted to a strong reception with 477 exhibitors housed across 26,000 sqm of space. Participants acknowledged the need to include this new categorisation given the increase of related products on the market. The area featured products, technologies and solutions such as core electric components and sensors, hydrogen energy and fuel cell, battery charging and swapping, connectivity, intelligent driving and chassis, and thermal management for new energy.

• Shedrive debuted their latest electric drive technology from Prestolite and Wuhu Sunshine
• Hubei Science Technology exhibited hydrogen fuel cells and intelligent thermal management solutions
• HESAI displayed their latest LiDAR technology

In addition, CALB, Star Charge, and JMCG also debuted in this new product sector.
Accessories and Customising sectors in Halls 1.2, 2.2 and 8.2 also proved immensely popular with a collection of domestic and overseas companies featuring interior, exterior and high-performance modifications. For example, BOP displayed a dual-core energy-gathering solar film. Japanese brand Idemitsu introduced a comprehensive car care solution for electric vehicles, which was well-received by visitors.

Fringe events eye up future automotive industry, with highlights from 20th anniversary celebrations

Across the four-day show, a number of special events defined a significant milestone in the show’s history. Amongst them, Walk for Nature encouraged participants to explore the 14 halls of the exhibition, tracking a total of 100 million steps over the four days. With this, the organisers will donate over RMB 100,000 to tree planting in the community. There was a clear sense of friendly rivalry over at the Customising x Tech Area in Hall 8.2 with simulated car contest, Quest for a Racing Master, adding a touch of fun to the festivities. Professionals from the Shanghai Volkswagen 333 Racing Team, PEGASUS Racing Team, and HIPOSR Racing Team, as well as nearly 260 contestants and 33 teams joined the competition to showcase their skills and celebrate motorsports culture.

Furthermore, the show featured its most comprehensive fringe programme to date with over 400 speakers across a total of 81 events that took place concurrently with the main show. Across the fairground, every event received enthusiastic feedback from attendees and industry experts alike. Key discussions focused on internationalisation, digitalisation, talent development, and sustainability in the automotive sector, addressing industry trends, challenges, and opportunities to help businesses strengthen global strategies, as well as promote innovation and sustainable growth. For example, automakers like Geely, SAIC MOTOR and Xiaopeng Automotive shared their latest technologies and training know-how, while research institutions such as Tongji University and the Strategic Research, China Intelligence and Connected Vehicles (Beijing) Research Institute, and Intelligent Connected Vehicle Research Department, Center for Automotive Strategy and Policy Research presented insights around future mobility.
It offered opportunities to learn about market trends ahead of the rest of the world. While topics primarily focused on understanding the Chinese market, presentations also examined wider information in global operating environments, helping audiences to self-reflect on current and future company strategies.

Media coverage from home and abroad

Automechanika Shanghai attracted significant attention from both global and domestic media, welcoming overseas representatives from 14 countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, the US, and Vietnam.

Feedback from exhibitors

“While our company is steady, innovative, and collaborative, Automechanika Shanghai has been exceptional, showcasing top-tier participants, and diverse offerings that exceeded our expectations. The lively activity at our booth reflects the exhibition’s prominent position in the industry, gathering key players from across the industry chain and facilitating engagement with leading domestic and international brands. The variety of dedicated areas, concurrent activities, along with the online and offline interactions, have enriched our experience and amplified the event’s impact on the industry.”

“Our participation in the Changzhou pavilion at Automechanika Shanghai surpassed all hopes. The pavilion presented an overview of a new energy vehicle supply chain and support system. We found approximately 30 percent of visitors at our booth were from overseas coming to learn about Star Charge and our energy initiatives. We see Automechanika Shanghai as a platform for industry integration, cutting-edge technologies, and trends that foster collaboration in the aftermarket.” Mr James Yang, Senior Marketing Manager, Star Charge (New Energy & Connectivity)
“Our booth has been very busy, attracting potential high-quality customers, particularly from Southeast Asia and Central Asia. This year’s exhibition focused heavily on technology, featuring numerous forums on new energy innovations. This provided valuable insights into the latest advancements from vehicle manufacturers, which will guide our technical research.” Ms Olivia Zhang, Head of Marketing and Online Sales Department, Aokly Group (Electrics & Electronics)

“Automechanika Shanghai is a highly professional exhibition that showcases the automotive industry’s development and connects us with global customers. As competition intensifies, companies are eager to expand internationally, and Automechanika Shanghai offers an excellent opportunity to do this. Additionally, it highlights new trends, products, and solutions to market challenges, while facilitating valuable client interactions.”