In one of the largest exhibition centers in the world, shaped like a four-leaf clover in western Shanghai, Chinese citizens will be able to discover, from Wednesday, April 23 to May 2, the new models designed for them by automakers. There will be options for all budgets, from the massive 9X SUV by premium brand Zeekr to the electric version of the Chery QQ, the iconic and popular Chinese car of the 2000s. However, amid this vast array, it is a general observation, much more than any particular model that will strike the hundreds of thousands of expected visitors: In the realm of automobiles, China has become the center of the world.
By the numbers, this reality has long been established: China became the largest automotive market in 2009, with sales reaching 31 million in 2024, significantly more than those in the United States and the European Union combined. For a long time, the Chinese industry produced solely for its domestic market through joint ventures with European, Japanese, and American brands. But recently, under President Xi Jinping, the country has expanded its scope. In 2023, China became the world’s leading automobile exporter, surpassing Germany and Japan.
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