Highlights from Auto Shanghai 2025: All About China, Almost

Auto Shanghai 2025 kicked off this week, and similar to previous editions most of the new vehicles making their debut are designed specifically for China. Some, like the 2026 Lexus ES, will come to Canada, mind you.

Below are many of the ones that have caught our attention. Take a look!

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2026 Lexus ES

Let’s start with the aforementioned ES. The eighth generation of the Japanese midsize luxury sedan has been developed under the theme of “Clean Tech x Elegance,” with inspiration from the LF-ZC concept. The new ES marks another evolution of the Lexus design language, but more importantly, it will go on sale in Canada early next year with a selection of hybrid and electric models—a first.

Mercedes-Benz Vision V

Mercedes-Benz presents its Vision V concept in Shanghai. No surprise there, since the Chinese are fond of flashy and luxurious minivans and limos. The shocker is that the resulting production model will also be headed for the North American market.

Buick Electra-GS

Buick is quite popular in China, and its new Electra-GS concept debuts as an electric sedan inspired by the centaur of Greek mythology. Production has yet to be confirmed. Imagine this car in Buick's North American portfolio!

Volkswagen ID. Era, ID. Aura and ID. Evo

Volkswagen is making a big statement at Auto Shanghai with a trio of electric concepts that will eventually find their way onto China's roads: the ID. Era and ID. Evo crossovers and the ID. Aura sedan. These are among 30+ new products destined for China. In Canada, as you know, we have to make do with the ID.4 and the ID. Buzz van.

Zeekr 9X

This Rolls-Royce Cullinan clone from Chinese brand Zeekr is said to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. All this for the price of a BMW X5...

AUDI E5 Sportback

Audi’s sales in China are falling, and drastic measures need to be taken. One of them is the launch of a new sub-brand called... AUDI—with all caps and no four-ring logos anywhere. The new E5 Sportback will be its first production model, on sale from this summer. Do you prefer the Canadian-bound A6 e-tron sedan?

Toyota bZ7

Toyota’s lineup of electric vehicles in China will soon include five models with the addition of this large sedan, a sort of answer to the Tesla Model S developed in partnership with GAC. Technical details are not yet available, but we sure love the design. The bZ7 will not be coming to North America.

Denza Z

Denza is a luxury brand owned by Chinese automaker BYD, and its Z sports car concept looks set to rival the forthcoming Porsche 718 Cayman EV. Styling is somewhat reminiscent of Lotus... with a huge rear spoiler to boot.

MG CyberX

Not all SUVs are interesting or even cool, but this one is. The rugged CyberX electric concept will give birth to a production model that could be sold in Europe. The pop-up headlights are a tribute to the Ferrari Testarossa, MG says.

Nissan Frontier Pro and N7

The Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid is Nissan's first electrified pickup. While it looks good, this vehicle is aimed at China, with a launch date in 2027. Don't worry: our own Frontier will get a similar treatment when the next generation arrives around 2028.

Meanwhile, the new Dongfeng Nissan N7 is a handsome electric sedan offering a range of up to 635 km, at least according to the very optimistic Chinese test cycle.

Dongfeng Honda GT and GAC Honda GT

Honda has unveiled a pair of superb production models based on the GT concept for the Chinese market. Each one sports unique headlights, but the rest is nearly identical. Inside, you’ll find as many as six different screens.

Himla

Chinese manufacturer Chery is launching a new brand that focuses on pickups: Himla. Its first model, a midsize truck, aims to compete with the Toyota Hilux not only in Asia, but also in Europe and South America.

Mazda EZ-60

Finally, you may remember the magnificent EZ-6 electric sedan unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show in 2024 (sold under the name 6e in Europe). Well, here's a crossover to match. The EZ-60 is designed for China in partnership with Changan Automobile. Once again, Mazda impresses with gorgeous styling. There will be electric and plug-in hybrid variants of the EZ-60. Another next-generation EV, manufactured in Japan for various global markets, is scheduled for 2027.