AUTO SHANGHAI

About the fair

Auto Shanghai is a Shanghai international automotive-industry exhibition. As one of the leading international auto shows, AUTO Shanghai offers an excellent platform for carmakers and suppliers to present new technologies and products, exchange information and build new business contacts. Since its launch in 1985, AUTO Shanghai has grown into the most important exhibition for the automotive industry in Asia, with rising numbers of exhibitors and visitors each edition. At AUTO Shanghai 2017, more than 1,000 exhibitors from 18 countries presented products and services across 360,000 sq m to over 1 million visitors from China and abroad.

Manufacturers making what this fair covers

Factories in our directory whose product lines match this fair. Worth contacting before you book the trip — or instead of it.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.