On November 5, the 8th China International Import Expo opened as scheduled, and 11 "classic cars" made their debut at the Expo, including the Jaguar E-Type, which is known as "the most beautiful car in the world".
Jaguar E-Type
As a crucial commodity in the global import and export market, the automotive exhibition area in Hall 2.1 has consistently been one of the most watched areas at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). This year, the hall has been renamed the Automotive and Smart Mobility Exhibition Area. Furthermore, in response to the policy of eight departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, regarding pilot reforms in automobile circulation and consumption, this year's CIIE has established an "International Automotive Culture Exhibition Area" for the first time. This area showcases 11 classic cars with both high value and historical significance, covering brands such as Hongqi, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, and Ferrari. The aim is to promote the development of China's antique car culture and trading industry, filling the gap in the used car market and the antique car industry.
Among them, the Jaguar E-Type, born in 1961, was created by the outstanding engineer and designer Malcolm Thayer. Thayer, an aerospace engineer, was the first to systematically introduce aerodynamic principles into sports car design. Its long hood, low-slung body, streamlined waistline, and elegant oval front end together constitute one of the most recognizable automotive styles of the 20th century. Enzo Ferrari once exclaimed, "The E-Type is the most beautiful car in the world." This comment is not only an acclaim for aesthetics but also an affirmation of the pinnacle of British automotive craftsmanship.
“Goodwood in the UK is just a small town, but during the annual Festival of Speed, the ‘classic cars’ that are still running on the track attract about 160,000 visitors. In China, ‘classic cars’ are still a blue ocean market,” Li Xinyin, general manager of Shanghai Jiading International Racing Service Co., Ltd., told The Paper at the China International Import Expo on November 6.
Li Xinyin, General Manager of Shanghai Jiading International Racing Service Co., Ltd.
According to her, the development of China's classic car industry began with the breakthrough in standards. On December 31, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce issued and implemented the "General Requirements for Traditional Classic Cars," also known as the "National Standard for Classic Cars," which clearly stipulates that only cars older than 30 years can be considered "classic cars."
Shanghai Jiading Comprehensive Bonded Zone Development Co., Ltd. is one of the drafting units of the "National Standard for Classic Cars." In Li Xinyin's view, they are both the initiators and practitioners of the national standard for classic cars. Ensuring that these "classic cars" appear at the China International Import Expo in accordance with laws and regulations is only the first step for these practitioners.
It is understood that Jiading, as an automobile city, is leveraging the export-oriented economic advantages of the Comprehensive Bonded Zone and is using a dual-engine approach of "standard setting + ecosystem building" to accelerate the "breakthrough" of the classic automobile industry, which was once a blank area in the industry, on stages such as the China International Import Expo.
Currently, the Jiading Bonded Zone is developing both the hardware and ecosystem for the classic car market. Li Xinyin revealed that on the hardware side, a 40,000-square-meter professional bonded warehouse in the Jiading Comprehensive Bonded Zone has been completed and renovated, with a customized temperature and humidity control system to meet the special storage needs of classic cars. On the software side, an industrial ecosystem encompassing national-level testing institutions, car manufacturers, individual collectors, restorers, auction houses, and others is gradually taking shape. This exhibition attracted the Peninsula Hotel to actively cooperate, becoming an important part of its ecosystem.
Lu Yimin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Greater China and General Manager of China Affairs at Peninsula Hotels Group
Lu Yimin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Greater China and General Manager of China Affairs at The Peninsula Hotels, revealed that the Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom II, launched in 1929 and displayed at the Peninsula Hotel, is extremely rare. It represents the second generation of the classic Rolls-Royce Phantom series. Its streamlined and dignified long wheelbase proportions, hand-riveted aluminum alloy panels, and the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament together constitute the most symbolic silhouette of luxury in the 1930s.
The Peninsula Hotel, as a major collector of Rolls-Royces, owns 40 Rolls-Royces, which have become the hotel's "mobile business card" and link the hotel with car culture.
Li Xinyin stated that in today's automotive market that prioritizes personalization, the classic car industry can drive synergy across multiple sectors, including culture, consumption, tourism, and auctions. The classic car trend sparked by the China International Import Expo (CIIE) is expected to propel classic cars from a "niche passion" to an "industry leader."
