After experiencing the madness of the 2009 automobile market, next week global car brands represented by Chinese automobile enterprises will gather in Guangzhou. Many experts in the industry have called this year's Guangzhou Auto Show an "awards ceremony", a "gathering", and a "PARTY". We are more inclined to see this auto show as a feast, a feast for the industry, a feast for the exhibition itself, and a feast for new car models.
Our newspaper will launch a special issue on the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 24th. Please stay tuned.
A Feast for the Industry - Production and Sales Break Through Ten Million Units
The Guangzhou Auto Show will open next week with a remarkable background. In China, automobile production and sales have surpassed ten million units, overtaking the United States to become the largest new car consumption country.
In October 2009, with the production of a golden orange Jiefang J6, the ten millionth car of the year was born at FAW in Changchun. Thus, China became the third country after the United States and Japan to produce over ten million cars annually. Looking back at history, it took the Chinese automobile industry 53 years to go from zero to surpassing annual production of three million vehicles, while it only took seven years to go from producing three million vehicles annually to surpassing ten million vehicles annually. Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei proposed that the next goal for the Chinese automobile industry is to make China a global automotive powerhouse by 2020.
The robust production and sales of the car market laid the foundation for this year's Guangzhou Auto Show. The latest prediction by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that the car market might reach 13 million vehicles this year, allowing major car companies to successfully achieve "increased production and increased income." With the strength and need to increase investment, the Guangzhou Auto Show serves as a great carrier bridging past achievements and future developments. Given the strong performance of the market this year against the odds, there is widespread optimism about the car market next year, and trends for next year’s new car releases can be glimpsed at this Guangzhou Auto Show.
A Feast for the Auto Show - Scale Approaching Beijing and Shanghai
According to the Guangzhou Auto Show organizing committee, this year's exhibition will cover 150,000 square meters, a 20% increase from the previous edition. More than 80 whole vehicle brands will participate, and it is expected that over a hundred new car models will be launched. Both the exhibition area and the number of new cars on display have set new records, making it the "strongest in history" auto show, showing a tendency to catch up with the "older brothers" Beijing Auto Show and Shanghai Auto Show.
It is reported that in just seven years, the Guangzhou Auto Show has transformed from a local sales fair into a large comprehensive exhibition featuring "new models, new energy, and new technologies." Moreover, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have all started setting up new factories around Guangzhou, clearly indicating the rising status of the southern China region in the Chinese automobile market.
This year's Guangzhou Auto Show will have the theme of "Technology • Trend • New Life," divided into four major exhibition areas: passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, parts, and automotive products. It will utilize 15 exhibition halls covering a total of 150,000 square meters, matching the exhibition area of the Beijing Auto Show and the Shanghai Auto Show. According to the organizing committee, the Guangzhou Auto Show's recruitment work is basically completed, and all car companies have begun preparations for the exhibition.
A Feast for Car Models - Multiple New Cars About to Launch
In addition to the exhibition scale, another major indicator of an auto show's level is the quantity and quality of new cars on display. Preliminary statistics indicate that at this year's Guangzhou Auto Show, there will be no fewer than 80 new car models concentrated for release, including nearly 20 models making their first domestic debut, among others. Whether imported, joint-venture, or local brands, they will all set new records for the Guangzhou Auto Show.
Amidst the gloomy global market conditions this year, China, having already entered the ranks of the world's top automotive markets, has become the last lifeline for global giants, who are seizing the opportunity presented by this Guangzhou Auto Show to showcase their strengths. This includes models such as the BMW X1, BMW 5 Series GT, Mercedes-Benz G-Class 500, Porsche 911 Turbo, Cayenne Special Sport Edition, domestically produced Golf GTI, domestically produced Volkswagen Tiguan, new Mazda 3, Buick's new generation GL8, new Chevrolet Sail HRV, Hyundai ix35, and many other models. Quite a few of these models were globally premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and then rushed to the Guangzhou Auto Show for their domestic or even Asian premieres. Meanwhile, Dongfeng Citroën C5, Nissan GT-R, and other models will announce prices and officially go on sale during this auto show.
This year, the rise of local brands will also present a fresh face at this auto show. Representative high-end models like Chery G5, Geely, BYD, Great Wall, and other leading enterprises will bring their latest models for enthusiastic performances. Host company GAC Group and GAC Honda will make breakthroughs in their own brands, while SAIC Motor's MG6 production model will also join this multi-faceted feast.