In terms of exhibitors, Auto Shanghai 2017 has assembled virtually all famous international auto brands while well-known Chinese brands were also vying with each other for fear of being outdone. Statistics show that 1,456 complete vehicles were on display. 

Mr. Yang Jianrong, President of Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai (CPITS) – the organizer of the 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition delivered a speech at the 5th Auto Shanghai Summit 2017. 

185,000 visitors! Last Saturday, the daily flow of visitors to Auto Shanghai 2017 at National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) hit a new record since the opening. “Though the number hasn’t reached the all-time high in the previous Auto Shanghai 2016, which was 196,000 visitors per day, the average daily flow since the opening has been around 100,000 visitors. It’s estimated that the total number of visitors will exceed that of the last year and the original estimate of one million.” Mr. Yang Jianrong told the reporters as the exhibition was drawing to a close. 

“Well-balanced Flow of Visitors and Improved Basic Service” 

Fast Entrance and Exit, Excellent Catering Services and Easy Accessibility 

“Since the opening, the show can be summed up in eight words ‘well-balanced flow of visitors and improved basic service.’ Apart from the organizers who have stood the test, the head of the venue also believes that NECC is now more competent in organizing top-level international exhibitions,” said Mr. Yang Jianrong.  

“Well-balanced flow of visitors” is evidenced by the average flow of visitors per day. Reportedly, at Auto Shanghai 2016, the peak stood at 196,000 visitors /day, but the off-peak data was only 70,000 to 80,000 visitors /day. “The imbalance demonstrated that the organizers failed to take effective measures to promote and recommend the ‘off-peak visiting.’ It led to inefficient use of various support resources. The experience of visitors in peak days was also compromised.”

“Improved basic service” means that visitors to this year’s show had much better experience compared to last year. The municipal-level security plan has been activated for the exhibition this year and NECC, the venue, has improved its tour guide amenities and shopping mall so as to provide visitors with fast entrance and exit, excellent catering services and easy accessibility. The monitoring result presents that as NECC’s commercial service outlets are closed one hour later than usual; visitors have almost never been detained in large numbers when exiting the venue since the opening.  

Visitors queuing for entrance 

Auto Shanghai Turned from a “Follower” to the “Forerunner” as One of the Most Prestigious Global Auto Shows   

Of course, apart from all sorts of external supports, it is also gratifying to see the upgrading of Auto Shanghai 2017 in terms of caliber. To the organizers, the upgrade also stands as a critical focus.  

Yang Jianrong told the reporters that there were five globally recognized top auto shows (Big Five Auto Shows) held respectively in Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, Detroit and Tokyo. After over 30 years of development, Auto Shanghai has grown into another top motor show, a title it fully deserves. Moreover, insiders all agree that it has turned from a “follower” to a “forerunner”. 

Firstly, in terms of size, all NECC’s thirteen halls are employed by the show, covering a total area of 360,000 m2, which is far more than any of the “Big Five” auto shows. Auto Shanghai now is the largest top global auto show.  

Secondly, in terms of exhibitors, virtually all famous international auto brands have been present while well-known Chinese brands were also vying with each other for fear of being outdone. Statistics show that 1,456 complete vehicles were on display. “In the past few years, with the global economic slowdown, many world-renowned brands were absent at the ‘Big Five’ auto show. But this year, quite a few international giants told us they would rather cancel their attendance at other world top auto shows or reduce investment than miss Auto Shanghai. It is because the absence from Auto Shanghai means giving up on the huge auto market in China.” Yang also explained that SAIC Motor, for instance, as a Shanghai-based corporation, booked the whole Hall 1, exhibiting unprecedented enthusiasm and input. 

Thirdly, after years of development, Auto Shanghai is no longer an exhibition at lower level that takes turnover as the major target. Along with other top auto shows, Auto Shanghai has evolved into a platform for the display of innovative auto technologies, such as new energies, intelligent vehicles and mobile internet, and exchanges of innovative ideas. The show has staged 113 new models of well-known domestic and international auto brands and 159 new energy vehicles. The industrial summit held during the show attracted over 50 senior leaders from international and domestic auto manufacturers and 400 guests from the industry to exchange their insights, which not only hit a new record of guests than any of the previous shows but also built it into an unusual event even compared with the “Big Five” auto shows.  

Significantly Improved Visiting Experience at Auto Shanghai 2017 

Leveraging Auto Shanghai and Rooted in Shanghai 

Venture out to Domestic and International Markets 

Auto Shanghai 2017 brought more to CPITS. According to Mr. Yang Jianrong, the success of Auto Shanghai reinforced their determination to be the “vanguard” and “leader” in the development of Shanghai as a city of international exhibitions.  

Shanghai has defined its objective to build into a “city of international exhibitions” by 2020. Currently, there are three widely-accepted evaluation criteria for international exhibition industry, namely area of exhibition venues, exhibition brands, and exhibition organizers’ main business income from exhibitions. In terms of physical facilities, the total area of exhibition venues in Shanghai has exceeded one million m2 which is larger than that in any other city in China and ranks among the largest ones in the world. However, in terms of intelligent strengths, there is room for Shanghai’s exhibition brands and organizers to improve and catch up with their international counterparts. Among the Top 100 Global Trade Shows, for example, more than 50 are in Germany, twice the number of China who ranks the second and equivalent to the sum of all the eight countries that follow. More 20 are in China, second only to Germany. Among them, Auto Shanghai ranks the sixth, the highest-ranking exhibition in China. “Messe Frankfurt, for instance, has dozens of branches around the globe and holds hundreds of high-caliber exhibitions all over the world every year,” said Mr. Yang Jianrong. 

“There have been 17 successful sessions of Auto Shanghai, a preliminary achievement for us, as well as a new beginning,” he continued. Next up, the professional exhibition companies under CPITS will be rooted in Shanghai and make breakthroughs in domestic and international markets to strengthen and expand themselves. In the domestic market, Intex Shanghai Co., Ltd. has participated in the management of Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center through management output and made achievements. Currently, Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd. is discussing with a convention and exhibition center in a western city in China over the possible foundation of a joint venture to co-develop the convention and exhibition market of the western China. In the international market, China Interdye, an exhibition organized by the company, has extended its reach outside China and toured in India, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries for five sessions. Next up, Index Shanghai Co., Ltd. plans to strengthen its cooperation with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Meanwhile, based on its existing industry-leading exhibitions such as the auto shows, dye exhibitions, mold exhibitions, wedding photography exhibitions, musical instrument exhibitions, and CES Asia, CPITS will seize the opportunities of structural reform of supply side and domestic consumption upgrade and expand to other areas, such as exhibitions for the old-age care and (chartered) cultural exhibitions. Huamao International Exhibition Co., Ltd., another pillar business of CPITS, will organize a cultural exhibition on Michelangelo from June to October this year.  

“In Germany, a country with the most advanced exhibition industry in the world, some exhibitions have been held for dozens of sessions. World Expo, a familiar exhibition event to everyone, has been walking through for more than a hundred years. I’m convinced we can build Auto Shanghai into a hallmark of world-class exhibition,” Mr. Yang Jianrong said at last.