Expo highlights latest cars and technologies
Major automakers said the second China International Import Expo has given them a great opportunity to present their latest models and innovative technologies.
A total of 69 auto companies from 16 countries and regions are taking part in this year's expo. Around 30 are Fortune Global 500 companies. The 30,000-square-meter automobile exhibition area is debuting more than 70 new products and technologies.
Carmakers including General Motors, Tesla, Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Iveco have brought their latest offerings to the expo. The automobile exhibition area has more than 140 vehicles, up to 10 percent more than at last year's expo.
Key focuses of the automobile exhibition area at this year are new-energy vehicles, vintage cars, intelligent and connected vehicles and a flying car.
US automaker General Motors has a lineup of pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles and its newest performance car.
Matt Tsien, GM executive vice president and president of GM China, said: "The China International Import Expo is a good platform to demonstrate to Chinese consumers our products and technologies. General Motors also takes this opportunity to collect feedback and make preparations for future product planning."
Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China said "the whole automotive world looks to China, as the country drives global mobility development."
The German carmaker is going to speed up its new-energy vehicle offensive in China. By the end of this year, it will offer 14 new-energy vehicle models in the Chinese market and its MEB platform — its modular car platform for electric cars — will start production next year in two factories at Anting and Foshan.
Volkswagen said it sold 140,000 imported cars in the nine months of this year, a 3 percent year-on-year growth.
German carmaker Daimler is showcasing its new flagship truck, the Mercedes-Benz Actros, which has partially automated driving technologies. The automaker is also showing its special truck named Unimog and passenger car lineup.
Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for China, said: “This is the second consecutive year that Daimler is participating in the CIIE, an important platform to promote global trade and innovation, which also provides us a good opportunity to present our latest innovative products and technologies to a broad customer base here in China."
The automobile exhibition area for the second CIIE consists of car manufacturers, parts makers, maintenance products and lubricants, automotive accessory products as well as vintage cars.