The ongoing 2025 Shanghai Auto Show has set a strong focus on electric and smart vehicles, with more than 100 new cars making their global debuts as the industry powers its way towards a greener and more intelligent future.
The 10-day auto show began in the east China metropolis on Wednesday and has attracted nearly 1,000 enterprises and supply chain enterprises from 26 countries and regions, making it the largest edition in the event's history.
China's auto sector is continuing its rapid growth with production and sales on the rise, while the country's leading carmakers are also incorporating cutting-edge technologies into their vehicles.
According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, last year, over 57 percent of all new cars were equipped with combined driving assistance functions in China.
This year's auto show has also provided a platform for more companies to showcase their latest innovations and component parts in the auto sector. Many of these firms, specializing in automotive-grade chips, in-car AI models, and power batteries, are debuting their products, positioning them as key players in launching these intelligent technologies to the international market.
Amid this exciting new tech-driven era, automakers attending the Shanghai event have been setting out their vision clearly, highlighting the adoption of advanced technologies while reaffirming their commitment to the safety of both drivers and passengers.
"Safety is the cornerstone of car manufacturing. As the integration of cars and artificial intelligence advances, users' demands for both safety and cost-effectiveness continue to rise. For instance, our vehicles are equipped with built-in roll cages and feature designs like our original armor. These innovative technologies not only enhance the driving experience by making it more enjoyable and user-friendly but also ensure the safety of passengers while maintaining an appealing aesthetic," said Zhang Jianyong, CEO of the BAIC Group, a Beijing-based automobile firm.
Smart cars take center stage as Shanghai Auto Show demonstrates future of driving
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end nearly four years of war in Ukraine, many Ukrainians remain defiant, demanding not just promises, but a peace grounded in justice.
Streets in Kiev bustle as usual, phones buzz with air raid alerts -- many checked, most shrugged off -- as Ukrainians adjust to a reality where war is both background noise and ever-present threat.
Peace discussions, including a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, are giving hope to some. But for many Ukrainians, the talk must translate into more than documents.
"The main key of the message to Trump is we're ready to discuss even controversial plans from you because we need peace, but this peace should be just peace, we don't need peace without justice. That's why we're ready to talk. We're ready to discuss. But we are not ready to capitulate," said Ivan Us, a senior consultant.
That delicate balance between hope for peace and the demand for justice echoes across the country, even as communities grapple with worsening humanitarian conditions.
"The situation is critical. No evacuees are coming from Pokrovsk. Security doesn't allow teams in, and people aren't leaving those settlements," said Evgenya Pinchuk, an NGO supervisor.
Others closer to combat zones describe an unrelenting emotional toll under near-constant threat.
"Drones fly over people every day. You go to bed wondering if your window will be hit. It's intense from morning to evening, and we're being shelled too," said one resident requesting anonymity.
The precarious state of Ukraine's energy infrastructure remains a target, with cold weather magnifying the impact of each strike.
"Russia targets energy because it hits daily life directly. When power and heat are unstable, services get disrupted and uncertainty grows, especially in winter," said Hennadi Ryabtsev, an energy analyst.
In places like Zaporizhzhia, home to a key nuclear power plant under dispute in ongoing peace talks, the anxiety is nearly constant.
"When strikes happen, you wonder: Will the lights go out? Will heating stop? Nights are restless - you're always preparing," said Olena Musher, a local resident.
Zelensky confirmed his planned face-to-face with Trump will focus on security guarantees and the status of Ukrainian territory. Among the key topics are regaining full control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, and finalizing Ukraine's 20-point peace proposal, which he states is 90 percent complete.
Ukrainians defiant as peace talks doubts persist
