(Yicai) April 23 -- The 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition has officially opened in the eastern Chinese city today and will run until May 2.

Nearly 1,000 companies from 26 countries and regions will attend the Auto Shanghai 2025, setting a new attendance record. More than 100 new car models will debut at the event.

Nio showcases its recently released ET9, the Chinese new energy vehicle startup’s most expensive model on the market, along with dozens of other car models. The ET9 has a starting price of CNY788,000 (USD107,830).

A staffer checks on the Firefly, the first model of Nio’s third, more affordable brand, priced from CNY119,800. The Firefly is on display at Nio’s booth, while the Shanghai-based carmaker’s second brand Onvo has its own booth.

Staffers work on the last details of Huawei Technologies’ booth. The Chinese telecoms giant’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance will display several models it co-developed with Chinese carmakers at the Auto Shanghai 2025, including the Aito M8, which will make its global debut.

Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery, a comprehensive new energy technology company under Chinese lithium-ion battery giant Sunwoda Electronic, brought its FP981C Sagittarius, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft with a wingspan of nine meters and maximum payload weight of 100 kilograms.

Editor: Futura Costaglione