Gasgoo Munich- The 2026 China Auto Forum convened in Shanghai on July 23. Hosted by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), this year's gathering carried the theme "New Start, New Opportunities, New Journey — Drawing a New Blueprint for High-Quality Development of the Auto Industry." The agenda included 16 core sessions, comprising a closed-door summit, a general forum, a technology leader summit, 13 thematic discussions, and various industry releases. Among them, Theme Forum 9 focused on "The Rise of Independent Design — Building a Chinese Automotive Aesthetic and Cultural System." Panelists explored in depth establishing a Chinese automotive design discourse, translating Eastern aesthetic values for modern markets, and overhauling design paradigms in the smart electric era.
Gasgoo CEO Zhou Xiaoying moderated the roundtable at Theme Forum 9. She was joined by a distinguished lineup of industry experts: Lan Wei, director and professor at Jilin University's School of Automotive Engineering; Wu Xiaochuan, a senior interior design expert at FAW Hongqi's styling center; Roberto Fedeli, founder of RF Company and consultant for Italy's DR Automobile Group; and Liu Haitao, vice general manager of marketing and styling at Avatr. Together, they addressed the central theme: "From Paying Tribute to Classics to Defining Trends — Cultural Confidence and Awakening in Chinese High-End Design." Their dialogue covered eight critical dimensions, ranging from aesthetic roots and cultural heritage to market balance and AI-driven smart cockpits, including talent development, international comparisons, and global dialogue.
The roundtable served as a high-level cross-border platform for the domestic design sector. Discussions progressed logically from "looking inward" to "going global," outlining the full trajectory of Chinese automotive design—from crafting an independent aesthetic system to securing a voice on the world stage. Speakers highlighted a critical shift: moving beyond superficial "symbolic application" toward a "deep translation of design language." This clarity offers a roadmap for creating original design languages that can withstand global scrutiny, helping Chinese design transition from following trends to defining them.
Moderating this forum marks another step in Gasgoo's ongoing effort to promote industrial culture. Looking ahead, Gasgoo plans to leverage its platform strengths to collaborate with industry, academic, and research partners worldwide. The goal is to deepen the Chinese aesthetic system and amplify its international influence. By doing so, the company aims to help Chinese design transition from following trends to setting them—contributing Chinese insights to the global automotive landscape.
Gasgoo Group is a leading industrial data and information platform rooted in China but serving a global audience. While its core focus remains the automotive sector, it is expanding into new frontiers like robotics and low-altitude aviation. Guided by the mission to "discover good companies, promote good technologies, and empower industry professionals," the firm tackles information asymmetry through its "5S" comprehensive service suite. This encompasses supply chain matchmaking, strategic analysis, brand positioning, global expansion ecosystems, and system resources—all designed to empower companies in their global expansion efforts.
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