Shanghai Auto Show 2025: The most impressive Chinese brands

We end our coverage of the Shanghai Auto Show with the most impressive Chinese brands. This list is entirely subjective and I take full responsibility for it!

Hongqi

I always had a thing for the luxury Chinese brand from FAW, arguably the oldest Chinese brand and the one used by Xi Jinping. They didn’t disappoint at the Show. The stand was grandiose and one of the most impressive in the entire Show, with a dedicated area for the ultra premium Golden Sunflower range.

Hongqi H9 PHEV and HS9 PHEV

New models included the HS9 PHEV and H9 PHEV. But what caught my eye was the yet unnamed new off-road 4WD towering over all other vehicles at the stand (see hero picture of this article). The brand is exploring a new segment with this vehicle, and one that is increasingly popular (Yangwang U8 and Zeekr 9X for example). The name will be decided by the public around the world, with the winner getting the car for free. We find the Hongqi signature – a red dash – on various parts of the vehicle including the wheel arches. This 4WD is said to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4 seconds.

Hongqi Guoyao, part of the Golden Sunflower ultra premium range

Hongqi Golden Sunflower MPV

A dedicated area was reserved to the Golden Sunflower models.

Hongqi E-HS9

Jetour

Oh how far this brand has come since I interviewed Mr. Li Xueyong, the brand’s General Manager, at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2019… Jetour broke its monthly wholesales record five months in a row at the end of 2024 and has sold over 100,000 units over Q1 2025, up 35.9% year-on-year. And at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show the brand is aiming higher still. Among existing models Jetour presented a tuned up version of the Shanhai T1 (see above) and, more interestingly, three near production ready concepts.

The Zhongheng sub-brand was introduced, with a super aggressive G700 SUV shown in two different-looking versions (see above), somewhat confusingly I must admit. According to Jetour, the G700 is scheduled to launch this September.

A very interesting addition is the Zhongheng F700 Pickup, as the brand is diving head first in this segment. Anticipated launch in January 2026.

Finally, Jetour showed the amphibious Zhongheng G900, taking a leaf from the Yangwang U8’s book.

Maextro

This is not a new model per se, but the first time I got to experience it “in the flesh”. Maextro is an ultra luxury brand created by an alliance between Huawei and JAC. The S800 is its first model and is squarely aimed at the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class and Rolls Royce models, and within reason. It is yet to launch on the Chinese market, with sales anticipated to start on May 31 and a starting price of 1 million yuan (120,000€ or US$137,000). Powertrains are either BEV or EREV. The car features “starry sky” elements alongside its headlights and door handles!