Guangzhou Auto Show: Better, smarter, cleaner cars in focus

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China's trendiest and most defining auto show, the Guangzhou Auto Show, has opened in the southern Province of Guangdong. As domestic and international brands continue to put big bets on China, the show says that the trend for next year is clearly to go smart and clean.

More than 1,000 cars are on show this year, 150 of them are new energy vehicles (EV). From sedans, SUVs to sports cars, vehicles are turning "green" across the board.

Polestar, a newcomer to the new energy vehicle market, brought its Polestar One to the show.

Zhang Xiaoning, head of Public Relations and Communications at Polestar China says, "We anticipate explosive growth in EV cars in the coming three to five years, driven by consumer demand. Consumers are endorsing EVs in every level of the market."

The China 16th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition is being held in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province from November 16 to 25, 2018. / VCG Photo

"There are so many people coming in for the model, which proves EV cars' popularity here," she says, noting that the brand will continue to develop electromotive cars in the coming years.

German manufacturer Audi is bringing its first EV SUV model to the show. The Audi Etrone is ready to hit the Chinese market early next year.

Feng Fuwei, product manager with the model says EV cars are quickly becoming on par with traditional ones, "This EV car responds faster than most other mechanical types."

He said that since China encourages the development of new-energy vehicles, the market is more accepting to EVs now, and "more Audi models will be coming along."

WEY, a Chinese luxury SUV brand, brought its concept car to the show, anticipating the future of automobiles to be fully unmanned and fully electric.

"I do think EV cars are the future. They can certainly do everything the other cars do. And they're clean", a visitor surnamed Wang told CGTN. "I think the only problem now is with charging poles, but that's going to be solved."

Industry insiders at the show expect that China's EV car sales will exceed one million units by year end, continuing the sector's robust growth against an otherwise relatively gloomy passenger car market.

The Guangzhou Auto Show will run through November 25.