A car parade kicked off in Guangzhou on December 21, with more than 50 vehicles traveling through the city's riverfront landmarks to showcase the integration of automotive innovation, culture, and tourism.
The parade set off from the Canton Tower and followed a 17-kilometer route along both banks of the Pearl River, passing sites including the Former Site of the Marshal's Mansion, the Guangdong Customs Museum, and Xinghai Concert Hall. The convoy featured intelligent connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, new energy cars, and classic models, attracting crowds along the route.
The procession was divided into four themed sections: future, present, classic, and co-creation. The "future intelligent driving" segment featured autonomous driving vehicles from local companies such as Pony.ai and WeRide. The "present innovation and transformation" segment highlighted smart new energy vehicles from both Guangzhou-based manufacturers and national brands, like Guangzhou Automobile Group and XPENG, reflecting China's shift towards electrification and intelligent mobility.
The "classic" segment showcased historic vehicles, including early models from Guangzhou Automobile Group. Meanwhile, the "co-creation" segment displayed customized vehicles, from modified show cars to 5G medical and camping vehicles, highlighting the open and inclusive cultural fabric of Guangzhou, as well as the city's young and diverse automotive culture.
A themed exhibition at the Canton Tower also ran from December 21, displaying nearly 40 vehicles, including classic cars, autonomous and new energy models, alongside technology exhibits such as XPeng's flying car, XPeng IRON robot, HKUST robot, and Li-Gong humanoid robot. Supported by biomimetic design and intelligent algorithms, these innovations break down the traditional boundaries between transportation and industrial manufacturing, outlining a vision of future life.
Guangzhou plans to further expand automotive scenarios, linking the car industry with culture, tourism, technology, and sports, as part of its ambition to build a globally influential automotive brand and strengthen its role as an international consumption hub.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | 2025 Guangzhou Car Parade
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
