More than 300 enterprises showcased their latest developments at the opening of the 2025 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo in Hong Kong on Thursday, with many rolling out new products aimed at tapping into local and regional demand, and underscoring the city’s role as a gateway for global expansion.

The event, which runs through Sunday, also saw companies announcing plans to establish research and development centers and expand the charging infrastructure in Hong Kong, in a bid to support the city’s green transportation transition.

Dongfeng Motor Corp is betting big on Hong Kong as a springboard for its international footprint. It is showcasing nine models at the expo, including four debuting outside the Chinese mainland.

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Zhu Xun, general manager for Southeast Asia in the Passenger Vehicle Sales and Marketing Department at China Dongfeng Motor Industry Import & Export Co, said the city offers a “testing ground” for electric vehicles (EVs), given its high adoption rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and driving habits similar to those in Southeast Asia.

“If our products perform well in Hong Kong, they are likely to succeed in Southeast Asian markets,” Zhu told China Daily.

The company plans to roll out three new right-hand-drive models in Hong Kong and markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and will maintain a steady pipeline of two or three new models annually for these regions, he said.

FAW Group Chairman Qiu Xiandong said the automaker will deepen its collaboration with Hong Kong across finance, technology, and industrial development. The company plans to establish a wealth management and global investment hub in the city, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as an international financial center.

He added that FAW will set up a platform in the city for the joint development and commercialization of technologies in new energy and intelligent connected vehicles.

Qiu said the company will accelerate the rollout of battery-swapping stations to support Hong Kong’s green transition. Its first battery-swapping demonstration station in the city was completed in late May.

Su Qingpeng, founder of GOVY, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft-maker established in 2024 under Guangzhou Automobile Group, was impressed by a dazzling showcase of innovation at the expo — hailed as Hong Kong’s largest, most comprehensive, and most impactful automotive event ever.

“The country’s major auto manufacturers are really bringing out their signature products and cutting-edge technology to impress the crowd,” Su told China Daily on the sidelines of the expo.

Su said that the expo goes beyond a constellation of the newest models to a vibrant display of deep technologies represented by the eVTOL and robotics. In addition, he said, it is a testament to how the automotive revolution in the world’s second-largest economy is having an impact.

The company’s first mass-produced flying car, GOVY AirCab, made its global debut at the expo.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu reaffirmed the special administrative region government’s commitment to supporting businesses that are capitalizing on the opportunities of the NEV industry.

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Lee outlined the goal of enhancing the city’s charging infrastructure to meet the needs of 160,000 electric vehicles, including subsidies for the transportation sector’s electrification and support for high-speed charging facility installations.

Over the past two years, the SAR government has attracted to Hong Kong leading companies in new energy, autonomous driving, and artificial intelligence (AI). He said these firms can collaborate with automakers in the future to drive technological innovation.

Hong Kong has emerged as a global leader in NEV adoption, with the number of electric vehicles soaring from 14,000 five years ago to 110,000 by the end of last year. Seven out of every 10 new private car registrations in Hong Kong today are electric, a growth rate that ranks among the highest in the world, Lee said.

Contact the writers at irisli@chinadailyhk.com