Presenting the Hottest Automobile Carnival in Central China - The 23rd Wuhan Motor Show in 2023 Came to a Successful Conclusion

2023-10-18

On October 18, the 23rd Wuhan Motor Show (WHMS 2023) successfully concluded at the Wuhan International Expo Center.

This year’s show covered a total area of 140,000 square meters, pooling hundreds of car companies and thousands of models. Nearly 20 car brands held launch events, and nearly 2,000 media outlets gave following-up reports, with view times totaling over 100 million. The number of attendees increased by 30% compared to the last time. The total sales amount of WHMS 2023 reached over RMB 5.6 billion, an increase of 47% compared to the last time.

Wuhan Motor Show has been serving as a window for the world to learn Wuhan, and a bridge for technological and cultural exchanges. During the 6-day carnival, a hot auto party was staged with a collision of trends and techs. Taking this urban event as a chance, we can see that the Wuhan Motor Show bridged the gap between production and consumption, witnessed the development of the automotive industry, and mirrored the consumption vitality of Wuhan.

Full Series of Dongfeng Motor Lightened up the Hall; Hubei Brands Joined Their Hands
NEVs Showed Their Muscle and Stood Out
The auto industry is the largest pillar industry in Hubei. And NEVs and ICVs are one of the five advantageous industries which helps the province build world-class industrial clusters and achieve breakthroughs. According to the Data, in 2022, the number of NEV enterprises in Hubei increased to 19. And the production of NEVs reached 293,000, a year-on-year increase of 98%, 7.5 percentage points higher than the average national growth.

Thriving on the local industry, Wuhan Motor Show is the largest conglomerate platform of the auto industry in central China. It constituted not only a stage for new models and technologies, but also an important platform for major brands to compete in technology and creativity.

Dongfeng, the host, showcased all of its brands in this “home game”, making a domineering presence. Consequently, all of their brands gathered at the A1 Pavilion, taking the wind to showcase multiple popular cars. Major auto groups, including SAIC, FAW and GAC, along with their diverse brands, presented a variety of models that have long occupied the sales rankings at Wuhan Motor Show.

NEV and new brands like Tesla, Li Auto, NIO, XPENG, AITO, AVATR, LEAPMOTOR, and HiPhi competed in the same field. Numerous heavyweight products put in a successful appearance on the Show.

It is worth mentioning that WHMS 2023 also allowed visitors experience the “never-seen-before” and “highly advanced technologies” brought by car companies. XPENG specially set up a separate area to display the X2 flying car. Dongfeng’s high-end electric off-road brand, Mengshi placed its simulated intelligent cockpit in the exhibition area. Visitors could put on VR gears and enter an in-air movable cockpit, and then immerse themselves into simulated driving experience, including navigating steep slopes and various terrains. This allowed visitors to explore the off-road capabilities of Mengshi 917.

Total Sales Reached RMB 5.6 Billion during the Show, a Year-on-year Increase of 47%
Unleashing the Vitality of the Show and Igniting a New Engine for the Development of the Auto Economy
2023 sees consumption boosted and also marks the 70th anniversary of China’s automotive industry. At the critical historical juncture, this year’s Wuhan Motor Show laid much stress on boosting automobile consumption.

The 2023 Wuhan Golden-Autumn Auto Consumption Promotion was launched simultaneously on the opening day of the Show, with a total of RMB 10 million subsidy. Consumers who purchase NEVs at designated dealerships during the promotion will receive Quick Pass vouchers with a sum from RMB 2,000 to 8,000 based on the purchase price.

This move not merely created another wave of car consumption boom by offering consumers the best opportunities to purchase cars throughout the year, but also infused confidence into Wuhan, accelerating its construction of an international consumption center and bolstering the growth of “auto city” in terms of consumption. This revitalized the momentum of car consumption in Wuhan.

Stimulated by both vouchers and the gathering of car brands, Wuhan Motor Show 2023 was very popular, with a sales amount of over RMB 5.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 47%. It is also reported that as of the 15th, nearly 2,000 sets of residential properties were intentionally transacted at the housing fair in sync with Wuhan Motor Show, with a sales amount of RMB 3.6 billion. The common effects made by cars and houses has sparked another round of consumption boom in Wuhan.

The Show has unleashed new consumption momentum for the economy of Wuhan, the “auto city”, by greatly empowering auto brands, promoting goods and pushing car consumption.

Industry Experts Gathered in Wuhan to Offer Suggestions
and Collaborated for the High-Quality Development of the Auto Industry in Central China
Intelligence is becoming the goal of the auto industry entering the second half of transformation, turning cars from traditional means of transportation to software-defined intelligent terminals. How can automotive makers seize opportunities? During this year’s Show, experts and professionals gathered in Wuhan to attend concurrent forums and events. All this gave intellectual supports to the future path of automotive industry in a bid to provide the “China solution” for the automotive industry in the era of intelligence.

Wuhan has boasted numerous “firsts” in the field of intelligence scenario in China so far: the first to issue commercial pilot licenses for ICVs, the first to release road construction standards for ICVs, the first to expand public testing roads to the central urban area, and the first to offer airport autonomous shuttle services.

“Automobile+” Culture Became Widely Known by Integrating Itself with Other Cultures, 
Creating a One-stop Platform for “Car Appreciation, Play, And Purchase”
In recent years, “camping tourism” becomes increasingly popular in China, representing by self-driving and camping via RV, a niche new leisure activity, is being embraced by more and more people.

WHMS 2023 was closely related to the car culture activities that enjoy huge popularity among citizens. During the event, a RV camping festival was specially held, to showcase multiple mainstream RVs and bring Wuhan citizens closer to RV travel.

The festival gathered a wide range of RVs that can serve people of different ages, e.g. dual-purpose RVs suitable for young people to work and travel, the ones suitable for fishing enthusiasts to camp overnight, C-type large-forehead RVs for the middle-aged and elderly retirees to travel, and 4WD pickup RVs for off-road enthusiasts.

In addition, the diverse car activities on site, such as high slope driving, blade overtaking, continuous pile winding, and racing drift, allowed visitors to fully experience the charm of automotive culture.

During the show, there were also car races which attracted over a hundred racers from across the country competed fiercely for three days to chase after the Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and MVP.

WHMS started with “Automobile+” as the focal point, gaining popularity by integrating itself with other cultures. Through popular activities such as camping, driving, and modification, a cross-border automobile culture festival was held with the purpose of building the event into a one-stop platform for “appreciating, experiencing, and purchasing cars”.

Since its establishment in 1995, Wuhan Motor Show, with a history of 28 years, has become a high-level and influential brand event in the auto industry in central China, boosting high-quality development in Wuhan.

This year, the Show continued to adhere to principles of high levels, high standards, and high specifications, and once again ignited the engine of the auto industry’s “accelerating and running”. The 6-day splendid event is about to come to an end, and we will bid farewell to this familiar stage for the time being. But this is not the end. Let us bear this beautiful piece of memory, and entertain the belief that the next Wuhan Motor Show will be a more touching reunion. Stepping on the waves, soaring in the wind. We will continue our journey next year.