Stunning Dresses of Companions at Shanghai Motor Show Showcasing Beauty and Technology

The companions who added color to the latest technology

The 21st Shanghai Motor Show, which opened on April 23 and concluded on May 2 in Shanghai, China, spanned an impressive 360,000 square meters (about 7.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome). During the 10-day event, nearly 900,000 visitors attended, experiencing the latest models, technologies, and innovations firsthand. With around 80 automotive brands and manufacturers, 500 companies in parts and systems, and 30 media outlets from the automotive industry covering the event, the motor show was filled with energy and excitement.

Personally, it felt like there were fewer companions compared to previous years at the Chinese motor shows, but they were still present. At the world’s top EV manufacturer, BYD, dozens of companions participated, dressed in glamorous outfits, highlighting the newly unveiled electric vehicles. Additionally, extravagant cosplayers portraying characters from the popular Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong made an appearance, along with striking custom cars inspired by the game.

At Japanese motor shows, it’s common to see companions from various ethnicities, but in China, the majority of the companions at the booths are Chinese, with foreigners typically only seen at select overseas brand booths. This is a distinctive trend.

In terms of overall trends this year, pure electric vehicles (BEVs) have reached a plateau, and many new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with gasoline engines were showcased. BYD’s 2024 global sales reached 4.272 million units, with nearly 60% of those being PHEVs. Chinese manufacturers are not only focusing on new PHEVs but also investing heavily in the development of new gasoline engines. Chinese companies are also extending their reach into the development of boxer engines, which were previously largely dominated by Subaru and Porsche, and three companies, including BYD, unveiled new models of boxer engines at this year’s motor show.

A flying car that pays attention to even the design

“The Horizontally Opposed Engine”

The biggest advantage of the horizontally opposed engine is that the pistons move horizontally, which allows the engine’s height to be minimized. In the era of electric vehicles (EVs), where longer driving range and better energy efficiency are pursued, reducing air resistance has become a popular design trend. By adopting a horizontally opposed engine, the front part of the vehicle can be made thinner.

As mentioned earlier, BYD has developed a horizontally opposed engine, which is featured in their luxury brand “Yangwang” model, the 14-million-yen electric sedan “U7.” Additionally, the state-owned Chinese automaker Chery showcased a 1.2-liter, two-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. This new horizontally opposed two-cylinder engine will be the first of its kind since Aichi Machine Industry’s “KONI 360” engine, which was released in 1962.

In addition to horizontally opposed engines, another area that many manufacturers are focusing on is flying cars. While this new mode of transportation is becoming more talked about in Japan, the vehicles being discussed there are often more akin to drones with four wheels or helicopters with a car body, which don’t fully resemble actual cars. On the other hand, the flying cars unveiled by Chinese manufacturers maintain a more car-like structure with four wheels, while also incorporating helicopter-like cabins, rotary wings, fixed wings, and power sources.

Of course, these vehicles are still in development, and whether they will come to fruition is uncertain. However, it’s clear that Chinese manufacturers are making more of an effort to resemble actual cars than their Japanese counterparts. What is even more surprising is that Hongqi, China’s top luxury car brand that was founded in 1958 and has long been favored by Chinese government officials including Mao Zedong, has also ventured into flying cars. The model named Tianlian No. 1 (“Heavenly Palanquin” in Chinese) features a sedan-style body with a traditional, elegant vertical grille that reflects Hongqi’s long heritage, while also boasting an advanced cockpit for easy operation. The flying range is expected to be over 200 kilometers, and the first flight is planned for sometime within 2025. This has generated a lot of excitement.

Many visitors to the show were captivated by the innovative technology.