New Euros in China

Audi announced it had its best month of sales in China just before the Shanghai show. The Ingolstadt brand reported a 7 per cent year-on-year increase for March, with 11,848 vehicles sold including sales in Hong Kong.

A facelifted Q7 took pride of place on the Audi stand (more here), sporting redesigned grille and bumpers with two-tone paintwork, and LED daytime running lights for the indicators. The Q7's interior has also been restyled including chrome-ringed instrument cluster.

But Audi's upturn in sales in China was attributed to the success of the long wheelbase A4 model, which has been on sale there since January this year.

The A4L is produced in Changchun, exclusively for the Chinese market, alongside the long wheelbase version of the A6. The A6L first went on sale in China in 2005.

The Changchun plant will also start production of the new Audi Q5 model at the end of 2009.

The new TT RS and A5/S5 convertible models were also on Audi's stand, but most striking was a magnificent Auto Union racer in gleaming silver.

BMW unveiled the new 760i and long wheelbase 760li at the Shanghai show. The twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12-equipped super saloon uses an all-new eight-speed transmission which BMW says will be perfectly suited to a petrol-electric version of the big 7, due later this year.

The equally large X6 M was also on BMW's stand (more here), seen for the first time in China. A long-wheelbase 5 Series was displayed -- no doubt a favourite with Chinese Beemer regulars.

Citroen's new C4 sedan made its debut at Shanghai, shown alongside the hatch version and new C5. The C5 goes into production at Wuhan later this year and is expected to go on sale in 2010.

The French company also revealed a "new corporate identity" at Shanghai which will affect its 217 dealers across China. According to Citroen, its dealers employ 3100 staff in China; supported by 12 technical training schools and two sales training schools in Chengdu and Wuhan.

Compatriot carmaker Peugeot displayed a weird concept resembling a super-sized trike. While on the Gauls, Renault was a no-show, having pulled its attendance, along with Fiat, months ago.

Ferrari's F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen was on hand at Shanghai to unveil the new California convertible. The Italian brand has enjoyed a recent upturn in sales in China with over 200 cars delivered last year, according to company figures.

Last month Ferrari delivered its 1000th car in Hong Kong: a 612 Scaglietti.

Jaguar had its boss Mike Driscoll and a teaser image of the new XJ model at Shanghai (more here). Jag's new flagship goes on sale internationally from the end of this year.

Mercedes-Benz displayed mildly updated versions of the S63 and S65 AMG range-toppers. Klaus Maier, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz in China told reporters: "The Shanghai automobile show has become the largest show for Mercedes-Benz globally, and is comparable only to the Frankfurt Motor Show."

According to local papers Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said he expected China, the group's fifth-biggest market, after the USA, Germany, UK and Italy, to take second place "soon".

Skoda's display featured a gorgeous 1939 Superb alongside the latest Octavia and new-generation Superb models.

Volkswagen's stand at Shanghai was large as it had to accommodate several updated models of its vast line-up on sale in China. The Group's stand covered a total area of more than 6500 square meters -- including the Audi, Skoda, Lamborghini and Bentley brands -- making it the largest at Shanghai.

VW and its homegrown FAW-Volkswagen brand showed the Passat New Lingyu and the new Golf, as well as Touran, Cross Polo and R36 wagon.

Dr. Winfried Vahland, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group in China, said VW's sales figures in the first quarter of 2009 had exceeded the company's expectations.

Last but not least in terms of popularity at the show, Volvo's S60 Concept was on the Swedish carmaker's display in Shanghai. The stylish coupe made its debut in China but was on show at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January this year (more here).
 

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