SHANGHAI, CHINA—There’s little doubt that China has been on the rise for the past decade or so.  More than ever, the Chinese is going through a phase that takes them, for the first time ever, into the world of commercialization.  And although the sheer number of luxury cars running about is a testament to fortunes made, the garish clothing, tasteless food (local Chinese food is better), oddly shaped skyline and preference for woods like “Double Happiness” are statements that simply say: money still can’t buy you taste.  So what do you get when China’s most cosmopolitan city dishes out the 11^th serving of Auto Shanghai?  A great tale to tell.

There’s no denying the massive scale of this show.  With 100,000 square meters of exhibition space, it eclipses motor shows the likes of Bangkok and Singapore.  The list of exhibitors is equally impressive with the usual array of Japanese, Korean and European alongside local favorites such as Brilliance, BTD, Chery and Geely.  There are seven indoor exhibition halls and 3 outdoor pavilions.  As expected of any international motor show, there were several new concepts on display, but what’s surprising is that just about every Chinese brand had one to call their own!  Some funny, some downright copied; but it’s a move that’s bold and commendable.

Greeting the guests in the West Hall is an entire complex hosting the First Automotive Works (FAW) Group, one of China’s leading car assemblers.  Their brand portfolio is vast and impressive—including the likes of Audi, Mazda and Toyota.  While the group showcased several new Volkswagens and Toyotas, what caught everyone’s eye is the company’s version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.  It sports the same proportions, design details and suicide doors.  After pestering the folks at FAW, they said that this car will be made for sale.  It was equally funny to note that Rolls-Royce also unveiled the Phantom LWB three exhibit halls down.

Aside from FAW, other Chinese brands decided to “emulate” other foreign models.  The entire BYD Motor stand is filled with “guess who’s” with all of its models having different fronts and rears slapped together haphazardly.  For example, their F3 benefits from a Honda City’s rear end and a Toyota Altis’ front, interior and drive train.  But before labeling the entire Chinese auto industry as a bunch of intellectual property violators, there are some here that have come up with original (but dated looking) designs.  There’s Chery’s M14 which has a retractable hardtop ala Peugeot 206CC and Tiggo, the company’s first compact SUV.  Souleast also unveiled their own rally-inspired sports car; the Evolution V based Lioncel Evoution!  Others though are simply the result of raids in Japanese manufacturer parts bins—producing new cars with sheet metal resembling 1980’s Daihatsus and Suzukis.

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