The 2026 Automotive Manufacturing Technology and Solutions Exhibition opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, drawing more than 700 exhibitors with innovations spanning welding, painting, robotics, and AI‑driven production.
This year, organizers say a surge of overseas buyers has added new weight to the show, highlighting China’s growing role as a supplier of advanced manufacturing solutions.
The buyers are combing the exhibition for practical upgrades, from smarter control systems to robotics that could reshape their factories.
"We are looking for alternatives to our actual control series and, and other general possibilities to if maybe better network connections and other possibilities," said a visitor.
"I mainly look for some overhanging cranes and some coils and robotics just to explore what can be the future in our factories moving forward," said another visitor.
A fixture in Shanghai for more than two decades, the exhibition is undergoing one of its biggest shifts this year as overseas buyers arrive in greater numbers, seeking not just car parts but broader "China solutions."
Among the firms drawing attention is Dexforce Technology, which develops AI‑driven systems for production lines. While its technology can be applied across industries, demand from carmakers has been the strongest.
"We officially started tapping into overseas markets in the latter half of last year. Before that, we only took small sporadic orders through distributors. Once we began handling overseas business directly ourselves last year, our revenue grew from scratch to over ten million," said Ding Pengpeng, Car Business Director of Dexforce Technology.
That appetite reflects China’s expanding strength in car manufacturing and AI development, which is fueling demand for its solutions. Even before the exhibition opened, organizers had already logged 300 purchase inquiries from nearly 100 foreign firms , clear evidence that overseas buyers are turning to China for advanced production technologies.
"We're really thrilled to see overseas buyers taking the initiative to come to China. They come here to source products on their own, and they've openly said they trust Chinese manufacturing. They want to find Chinese solutions to serve their local markets back home. I believe this marks a fundamental shift," said Lanny Zhang, Senior VP of RX China.
China’s customs data shows car exports surged more than 48 percent in the first five months of the year. In May alone, AI‑related industrial products accounted for nearly half of overall export growth, highlighting how technology is powering the country’s momentum in global markets.
Foreign buyers seek ‘China solutions’ at Shanghai exhibition
