By Greg Gao

(JW Insights) Apr 19 -- New vehicle makers in the have taken center stage at the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, which kicked off on April 18, reported Yicai Global.

Though China’s auto market expands more slowly this year than anticipated, visitors swarm around the booths of new energy vehicle startups, They are showcasing more second-generation electric cars that boast the latest smart driving and intelligent cockpit systems. Over 100 car models are making their global debut at the auto show, with over 1,000 exhibitors.

The level of intelligentization is becoming a key battleground for vehicle manufacturers. Nio has brought six EVs to this year’s show including three brand new ones. Established carmakers such as BYD, Geely, Chongqing Changan Automobile and Great Wall Motor are also displaying their newest electric cars.

International carmakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, have a strong presence as well. Japan’s Toyota Motor has brought two all-electric models cars that will go to market next year, said Yicai Global.

Toyota will accelerate the research and development of all-electric vehicles that target the Chinese market, said Koji Sato, the Aichi-based firm’s new president.

Consumer tastes are changing quickly, said Feng Xingya, general manager at Guangzhou Automobile Group. People who planned to buy fossil fuel-powered cars are now considering electric cars.

China’s auto market, the world’s largest, is expanding more slowly this year than anticipated amid fiercer competition.

Retail sales of passenger cars in China last month rose just 0.3 percent from a year earlier to 1.6 million because of soft demand, according to data recently released by the China Passenger Car Association. First-quarter sales fell 13.4 percent from a year ago to 4.3 million.

US electric vehicle giant Tesla sparked an auto price war in China in January. Since then, dozens of auto brands have followed suit with discounts and subsidies.

Feng Xingya, the general manager of auto giant GAC Group, pointed out that in the face of this change, carmakers should maintain high vigilance, accelerate electrification, and achieve intelligent transformation, according to the Yicai Global report.