Shanghai’s top government leaders have visited the international auto show now underway in the city to meet with senior executives from foreign vehicle and auto parts makers.

Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, toured the booths of a number of overseas carmakers at the 21st Shanghai International Automotive Industry Exhibition yesterday, including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen, according to a government press release.

Mayor Gong Zheng also met with executives of global automotive parts suppliers yesterday.

Chen spoke with the senior executives, soliciting their input on improving the business environment and strengthening the broader industrial ecosystem.

Shanghai is a vital window into China, and participating in the Shanghai Auto Show offers global and investment opportunities, said Ola Källenius, chairman of Mercedes-Benz’s management board. The German carmaker will continue to refine its presence in China, he added.

Held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Auto Shanghai 2025 runs from April 23 to May 2. More than 1,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions are taking part, setting a new record, while over 100 new vehicle models will debut at the event.

Executives from foreign auto parts suppliers, such as France’s Forvia Group and Germany’s Webasto Group, said they have continuously upgraded their capabilities in Shanghai, with their research, development, and production shifting tack to ‘in Shanghai for China and the world’ from ‘in Shanghai for Shanghai.’

They also pledged to keep investing in Shanghai and deepening their engagement in the Chinese market.

Retail sales of new energy vehicles in Shanghai surged 10.6 percent in the first three months of this year, according to the latest official data.