Auto Shanghai 2025: Massive Screens, Massage Seats And Flying Taxis Stole The Show
At the Auto Shanghai show, people waited to take seats in opulent minivans with reclining back seats and chrome radiator grilles.
At this year's Auto Shanghai, the spotlight shifted from powerful engines to futuristic passenger comfort and cutting-edge technology.
The event, which kicked off on April 23, showcased the latest in advanced car features—from massive screens and luxurious massage seats to the dream of flying taxis.
Screens that are making headlines
Chinese carmakers are attempting to appeal to hyperconnected consumers in the face of intense competition by installing screens up to 65 inches wide at the front of each passenger, in the doors, in the sun visors, or even on the car's bonnet.
In the meantime, younger customers who currently have no trouble connecting their phones to their cars are the target of electronics behemoths Xiaomi and Huawei.
Volkswagen's China-focused brand, AUDI, which is purposefully stylised in capital letters, has released its first vehicle with a screen that takes up the entire dashboard to compete with its Chinese rivals.
In addition, singing karaoke or watching videos can be done on the screens when they are immobile. And except for emergencies, modern driving systems promise to get users from point A to point B without requiring them to touch the steering wheel.
'With the proliferation of intelligent driving, cars will no longer be viewed solely as transportation tools, but will truly become a 'second living space," in a 2025 research on the preferences of Chinese auto consumers, consulting company McKinsey stated, as per Hindustan Times.
In an attempt to entice future executives, Mercedes showed the Vision V, a prototype of their next-generation luxury electric minivan, which features aluminium seats, wood and silk trim, and a foldable cinema screen.
McKinsey claims that luxury equipment like refrigerators, TVs, and reclining seats are very popular in China, as are high-end suspension and rear-wheel steering that improve driving comfort. 'As vehicle prices increase, so does consumer demand for these features, along with a growing willingness to pay extra" to have them, the consultancy stated.
Chinese carmaker Nio used passengers bouncing around inside its cars on April 25 to show off how well the suspension worked. Others are using more conventional methods. For example, the French equipment firm Forvia offers a seat that pinches and pricks its user.
According to Zong Li, the innovation manager at the company's booth, the seat was 'inspired by traditional Chinese and Thai massages" and is anticipated to be fitted in a Chinese car this year.
Flying Taxis on Display
In other places, several flying taxis propelled by propellers loomed over other vehicles. Currently at the prototype stage, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology eventually hopes to transport multiple passengers at once.
The top battery manufacturer in the world, CATL, unveiled their eVTOL concept shortly after declaring that it had invested 'hundreds of millions of dollars" in the Chinese startup AutoFlight.
Even Hongqi, a traditional manufacturer known for providing Xi Jinping, the leader of China, with limousines, unveiled its idea for a 'flying car" that can carry two people. It claimed an untested range of 200 kilometres (124 miles) before tests were set for this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
FATF flags Pakistan bid to ship in missile gear from China on sly
(AI image created using ChatGPT) NEW DELHI: A new report by Financial Action Task Force has flagged Pakistan's attempts to procure equipment for its missile programme by mislabeling shipment, drawing attention to the country's failure in implementing measures to combat financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which is one of the recommendations of the global watchdog. The report not only reveals that critical components for ballistic missiles originating from China were mislabeled in documents but also links the importer to Pakistan's National Development Complex which handles missile production. India is likely to use the revelations in its dossier to make another push for Pakistan's return to the FATF 'grey list' which identifies countries with weaknesses in their anti-money laundering and terror financing systems. These countries are subjected to closer monitoring and must demonstrate progress on corrective action plans. Pakistan has been on the list three times with the most recent sanction of 2018 lifted in 2022. In Feb 2020, a Chinese vessel named 'Da Cui Yun', which was en route to Port Qasim in Karachi, was intercepted at Gujarat's Kandla port. While the equipment was seized, the ship and its crew were allowed to leave after investigation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In its latest report titled 'Complex Proliferation Financing and Sanctions Evasion Schemes', FATF refers to the investigation by Indian Customs. "Indian authorities confirmed that documents mis-declared the shipment's dual-use items. Indian investigators certified the items for shipment to be 'autoclaves', which are used for sensitive high energy materials and for insulation and chemical coating of missile motors," it read. "The sensitive items are included in dual-use export control lists of the Missile Technology Control Regime, India, and other jurisdictions. The Bill of Loading of the seized cargo provided evidence of the link between the importer and National Development Complex," it added. FATF may release the report next month amid hopes in India that it would expose Pakistan's inadequacies in combating terror financing - something which could potentially result in the country being placed under enhanced monitoring, and being returned to 'grey list'. This move would subject Pakistan to increased financial scrutiny, impacting foreign investment and capital inflows. India has been pushing for Pakistan's return to the list, citing its brazen support for terrorism and failure to comply with FATF norms.
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Canada says network devices compromised in China-linked hack
Canada's cybersecurity agency said Chinese-backed hackers were likely behind recent malicious activity targeting domestic telecommunications infrastructure, warning that three network devices registered to a Canadian company were compromised in the attacks. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation urged Canadian organisations to take steps to harden their networks against the threat posed by Salt Typhoon, a group linked to the Chinese government, in a bulletin issued late on Friday. 'The Cyber Centre is aware of malicious cyber activities currently targeting Canadian telecommunications companies,' the center said. 'The responsible actors are almost certainly PRC state-sponsored actors, specifically Salt Typhoon,' it said, referring to the People's Republic of investigations that revealed overlaps with malicious indicators consistent with Salt Typhoon suggest the cyber campaign 'is broader than just the telecommunications sector,' it hackers will 'almost certainly' continue efforts to infiltrate Canadian organizations — especially telecom providers — over the next two years, the agency said. Beijing has repeatedly denied US allegations of its involvement in Salt Typhoon, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal last year. In January, the US sanctioned a Chinese firm accused of 'direct involvement' in the infiltrations along with the country's Ministry of State Security.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Why Chinese hackers have unleashed cyberattacks on 'friend Russia' since Ukraine conflict, what 'war secrets' are behind these attacks
AI Image Cyber analysts have reportedly discovered a strange cyberwarfare trend. According to a report by New York Times, quoting security researchers, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, groups linked to the Chinese government have repeatedly hacked Russian companies and government agencies in an apparent search for military secrets. There has been increase in Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Chinese government-linked hackers have repeatedly targeted Russian companies and government agencies, seeking military secrets, according to the New York Times report. The cyberattacks, which intensified in May 2022, have persisted despite public declarations of a 'no-limits' partnership between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese hacking groups 'targetting' Russian businesses The report claims that a Chinese hacking group, Sanyo, impersonated a Russian engineering firm's email addresses in 2023 to steal data on nuclear submarines, as uncovered by Taiwan-based cybersecurity firm TeamT5, which linked the attack to Beijing. 'China likely seeks to gather intelligence on Russia's activities, including on its military operation in Ukraine, defense developments and other geopolitical maneuvers,' TeamT5 researcher Che Chang told the Times. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo A classified Russian FSB document, obtained by The New York Times, reveals Moscow's concerns about China's pursuit of Russian defense technology and battlefield insights, labeling China an 'enemy.' This contrasts with the public Sino-Russian alliance, as Russia relies on China for oil markets and war-critical technology. The document highlights China's interest in drone warfare and software, noting that 'the war in Ukraine fundamentally shifted intelligence priorities for both countries,' according to Itay Cohen of Palo Alto Networks, as quoted by the Times. What techniques Chinese hackers are said to be using against Russia The New York Times also reports that Chinese hackers targeted Rostec, Russia's state-owned defense conglomerate, for satellite communications and radar data, using malicious Microsoft Word files to infiltrate aviation and state entities. Groups like Mustang Panda, suspected of ties to China's Ministry of State Security, have hit Russian military and border units, the Times notes, citing Rafe Pilling of Sophos. Pilling told the Times, 'The targeting we've observed tends to be political and military intelligence gathering.' Proprietary malware like Deed RAT, used by Chinese state-sponsored hackers, has been deployed against Russian aerospace and defense sectors, the report said, citing Positive Technologies. Despite 2009 and 2015 agreements barring mutual cyberattacks, the Times notes that experts view these as symbolic, with hacking spiking post-Ukraine invasion. 'The activity — we saw it immediately in the months following Russia's full-scale invasion,' Cohen told the Times, highlighting the tension beneath the public narrative of Sino-Russian unity. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
