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In the long run, the battle between oil-powered and electric vehicles is akin to the rivalry between mechanical and digital watches. Facts will prove that digital watches can achieve unmatched intelligence and fashion, but will never match the classic and luxurious charm of mechanical watches. In fact, both can coexist beautifully, enhancing each other's beauty, which is not only a new expectation but also a new path, leading not to decay but to a vibrant future.

Produced by|Heyan Yueche Studio

Written by|Yan Guangming

Edited by|He Zi

3007 words in total

4 minutes to read

From entering the exhibition hall at 8 am to leaving at 5 pm, a total of 9 hours. My phone faithfully recorded: 23,808 steps, burning 897 kilocalories, totaling 17 kilometers.

This surprised me. I spent so long visiting just two halls, but what did I see? Taking a moment to reflect, I suddenly felt the weight in my backpack, my soaked T-shirt, sweat pouring down my face, panting breath, and wobbly legs, like a tired donkey still excited after unharnessing.

This is an auto show, leaving excitement and suspense as the final exhibition of the year.

On the way to the airport, my mind was still filled with the chaos and hustle of the auto show. Hurried footsteps, noisy scenes, and dazzling displays, along with those indescribable yet anxious expressions, and the non-stop launches on different stands, like a series of short plays timed to perfection, one after another. It was hard to see everything, and it was impossible. This excitement was irresistible, leaving me wanting more.

Many say this year's Guangzhou Auto Show is the "Last Supper." The reasons are nothing more than the disorder and lack of direction in the entire automotive industry. Some are pessimistic, while others are excited. The obvious sign is that outdoor auto show advertisements have nearly disappeared, even at airports, and fewer media outlets were invited. This unprecedented atmosphere at the Guangzhou Auto Show indicates undercurrents of industry downturn, and the wind has shifted. Meanwhile, joint venture automakers, once the mainstay, are now collectively silent or low-key, even retreating, generously ceding large exhibition space to independent Chinese automakers and new forces. Some say this reflects a change or inversion in the automotive landscape and competitive dynamics, perhaps another manifestation of the automotive transformation.

Auto shows are barometers of the automotive industry. As the grand finale of China's four major auto shows, the Guangzhou Auto Show has always been a market bellwether. The reason is simple: the Guangzhou Auto Show best reflects the true trends of the Chinese automotive market, forming a traditional "Golden Triangle" with the Beijing and Shanghai Auto Shows (Beijing for momentum, Shanghai for branding, Guangzhou for market access), which generally aligns with China's economic trends, rooted in history and cultural accumulation.

So, what significance does the Guangzhou Auto Show hold for the Chinese automotive market? Looking back, whether it's Volkswagen's "Southern Strategy," General Motors' "Layout in South China," or the formation of the "Iron Triangle" of Japanese brands in Guangdong and Cantonese regions, they all prove that the southern market, represented by Guangzhou, has always been a fiercely contested territory for automakers. In the past, there was a saying that "controlling the Guangzhou (East) market means controlling the world" (establishing a foothold in the Guangdong market leads to other markets). Independent Chinese brands like Geely, Chery, and BYD all survived thanks to the openness of the Guangdong market. Wasn't it also in Guangdong that the taxi brands Santana, Jetta, and Xiali first gained fame? Isn't the current situation of new energy vehicles the same?

Therefore, looking at history and the present, Guangdong is the hotbed of China's automotive industry, the cradle of the Chinese automotive market, and a market that spurs the flourishing of automobiles. So, it's not an exaggeration to say that the Guangzhou Auto Show plays a pivotal role in China's automotive industry, representing the market presentation of trends seen at the Beijing and Shanghai Auto Shows. It was true in the past, and it's still true today. Therefore, despite the current external warmth and internal coldness of the automotive industry, there is still hope for uncertainty. What will ultimately happen?

Walking 17 kilometers, I covered Areas A (mainly oil-powered vehicles) and D (mainly electric vehicles) with over 20,000 steps. I walked back and forth several times. In my decades of attending auto shows, I have never experienced, observed, and pondered so intently as today. I feel that the excitement of automobiles stems not only from changes in automobiles themselves but also from the need to change perceptions as we enter the "Intelligent Electric Era." From the eagerness to meet functional needs to the pursuit of high-end material satisfaction, and evolving into a life-or-death competition in automotive transformation, the unscrupulous pursuit of profits by capital is so blatant that it becomes grotesque and chilling. Someone asked me what I thought of the Guangzhou Auto Show. I said it's the "Battle of Oil vs. Electricity." Despite the hustle and bustle, everyone claims to be "far ahead," but upon closer inspection, they are more or less the same, plagued by homogeneity. Everyone is scrambling for the microphone, vociferously shouting to "redefine the automobile." Is it really that easy?

This reminds me of a quote from artist Xu Bing, famous for his "Book from the Sky," who said, "Today, art has entered an era where it is least clear what it is." Coincidentally, the first booth I visited in Area A featured Xu Bing's Chinese characters for the Audi Horch (A8L Horch) English name, imbued with depth and artistic conception. Similarly, when I saw the new Audi logo in Area D, the absence of the four rings made it seem flimsy. What does this mean? Similarly, at the Lexus booth, seeing the LX SUV naturally reminded me of the LS sedan, embodying the luxury of being "famous for its elegance." This serves as endorsement for Lexus, hinting at an Eastern aesthetic of "luxury from the heart" – presenting an exploration journey exclusive to you.

Interestingly, as I left the exhibition hall, I saw BYD painting landscapes on its cars and even brought in "Monkey King" for good luck. This reminded me of the controversy over painting landscapes on refrigerators over 20 years ago. It's not that it can't be done or that I'm against crossovers. The problem is that these are two different aesthetic genes with no inherent logical relationship or cultural affinity, making it difficult to connect them with industrial aesthetics. In fact, this is not an isolated case, indicating blind spots in automotive aesthetics, from imitating and following styling designs to puzzling and exaggerating them. This kind of unconventional subversion and randomness has even influenced foreigners who adapt to local customs. While it may seem superficial, it actually reflects immaturity, lack of confidence, and determination. The root cause lies in aesthetic illiteracy, which is even more terrifying than cultural illiteracy.

It's worth noting that the overall images of the automotive giants Volkswagen, General Motors, and Toyota were absent. The same was true for SAIC, FAW, and Dongfeng, which only participated sporadically and independently, lacking the previous momentum and cohesion. The attention garnered by these subtle changes is not simple, indicating a fundamental shift in the industry's main structure. In stark contrast, apart from GAC Group's overall image encompassing Hall 2.2 in Area A, BYD also rented an entire hall and dedicated a section to a special historical photo exhibition. Independent Chinese brands like Geely, Chery, and Great Wall each rented half a hall, confronting foreign brands prominently and confidently, shifting from confrontation to challenge, truly reflecting the trend of "joint ventures declining, independents rising."

Looking at the new forces, although there are many innovative intelligent electric products, especially with Huawei's involvement, making it all the more dazzling and confusing, it's hard to see clearly what's really going on at first glance. However, some intelligent electric "games" are still understandable. For example, Lynk & Co, which just announced being acquired by Zeekr, and the Zeekr booth became highlights of the auto show. The success of the Lynk & Co brand and Zeekr's rapid rise seem to prove that intelligent electric products backed by a group and with physical advantages are credible and reliable.

Similarly, the intelligent electric products launched by Guangzhou Honda and Guangzhou Toyota (BZ3X, YEP7) undoubtedly provide further evidence that whether it's intelligence, electrification, or end-to-end solutions, automotive transformation relies on original technology with a foundation of technical accumulation and cultural heritage. This gained industry consensus and professional recognition at this year's CIIE. For Guangzhou Toyota, launching the pure electric brand BZ3X at the start of a new 20-year era is a milestone, marking the advent of the intelligent driving era. It not only fired the "first shot for new joint venture pure electric vehicles" but also set an example for "recreating new joint venture vehicles." YEP7's slogan is: "An extremely rare new driving pleasure in the electric era." This means that the promise to users is not just a slogan but a sense of gain, where electric vehicles must possess the performance of oil-powered vehicles, not only meeting the needs of three values (function, emotion, and asset) but also being "easy to drive, useful, and reliable."

This is impressive. It's hard not to be impressed. The Japanese intelligent electric products, which erupted in silence, broke many suspense and dispelled some of the empty heat at the Guangzhou Auto Show. What's expected is not only a positive response to China's intelligent electric vehicle market but also substantial products and technologies that ultimately translate into consumer satisfaction and joy. It must be said that this is not only the beginning of the battle between oil and electricity but also a test of their perception. For everyone involved, it's a personal battle, the beginning of a rebirth from the ashes.

In the long run, the battle between oil and electricity is akin to the rivalry between mechanical and digital watches. Facts will prove that while digital watches can achieve unmatched intelligence and fashion, they will never match the classic and luxurious charm of mechanical watches. In fact, both can coexist beautifully, enhancing each other's beauty, which is not only a new expectation but also a new path, leading not to decay but to a vibrant future.

Comments

The outdoor advertisements for the auto show have nearly disappeared, even at airports, and fewer media outlets were invited. This unprecedented atmosphere at the Guangzhou Auto Show indicates undercurrents of industry downturn, and the wind has shifted. Meanwhile, joint venture automakers, once the mainstay, are now collectively silent or low-key, even retreating, generously ceding large exhibition space to independent Chinese automakers and new forces. Some say this reflects a change or inversion in the automotive landscape and competitive dynamics, perhaps another manifestation of automotive transformation.

(This article is originally created by Heyan Yueche and cannot be reproduced without authorization)