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If Porsche had a passport, it would be covered in stamps. Zuffenhausen, Weissach, Atlanta, Singapore… and now, Shanghai — where the German icon has just pulled the silk cover off its first-ever integrated overseas R&D centre. Not just another design studio or tech outpost — this is the real deal: 10,000 square metres of high-octane innovation, right in the heart of the Hongqiao CBD.

This isn’t about chasing cheap labour or building cars for China. It’s about building ideas in China.

From November 5, 2025, Porsche’s Shanghai R&D hub goes fully operational, blending Stuttgart precision with Shanghai speed. It’s the beating heart of Porsche’s “In China, for China” strategy — a phrase that sounds corporate until you realise what it really means: a radical shift in how Porsche thinks, designs, and engineers for one of the world’s most demanding automotive markets.

From Weissach to WeChat

“China is leading the way in future mobility,” declared Porsche CEO Dr. Oliver Blume at the ribbon-cutting. “Solving the challenges of this transformation isn’t possible from afar – it has to happen here.”

That’s not just talk. Porsche has packed this facility with over 300 engineers who speak fluent code as easily as they talk torque. The new Shanghai hub fuses Porsche Engineering China, Porsche Digital China, and the local Technical Division into one brainy machine. The goal? To take Porsche’s famously precise German engineering and infuse it with the restless digital pulse of China.

And it’s already working. The centre’s first offspring is a next-generation, China-exclusive infotainment system debuting mid-2026. Think of it as a Porsche-designed operating system built with the same precision as its flat-six engines — but instead of pistons and camshafts, it runs on AI, 3D interfaces, and deep integration with China’s digital ecosystem.

AI Meets Apex Corner

According to Li Nan, head of the new R&D division, the system “brings Porsche’s iconic design philosophy into the digital world with bold clarity and precision.” Translation: it looks as good as it drives.

The upcoming interface features an AI-powered voice assistant based on large language models (yes, Porsche just went ChatGPT), immersive 3D vehicle controls, and seamless links to China’s app-heavy ecosystem. Imagine saying “Hey Porsche, find me a late-night baozi place near the Bund,” and the car not only maps the route but reserves parking and queues your playlist for the drive.

It’s a taste of what Porsche calls new luxury — tech that feels intuitive, personal, and fast. Very fast.

Not a Branch — a Brain

Dr. Michael Steiner, Porsche’s R&D chief, is clear about the intent: “Our China R&D will complement Weissach, not copy it.”

Think of Shanghai as Weissach’s bolder, more impulsive younger sibling — one who prototypes ideas at lightning speed. Cycle times that once took years are now being cut to months, says Sajjad Khan, the man behind Porsche’s Car-IT division. It’s German discipline supercharged with Chinese pace.

And let’s be honest — if there’s a place on Earth that eats innovation for breakfast, it’s China. Local tech giants push updates faster than you can blink. Customer expectations evolve at warp speed. So Porsche isn’t just keeping up — it’s embedding itself in the ecosystem that defines the future of driving.

A Decade in the Making

This moment didn’t appear out of nowhere. Porsche’s Chinese R&D journey began quietly in 2014 with a small engineering office in Shanghai. By 2021, it had launched Porsche Digital China, followed by a local R&D satellite in 2022. The new integrated centre is the culmination of that trajectory — and a statement that Porsche sees China not as a market, but as a co-creator.

Alexander Pollich, Porsche China’s CEO, summed it up neatly: “This center is our promise to deliver intelligent solutions that deeply connect to the digital life and specific needs of our Chinese customers — while unmistakably being Porsche in every drive.”

The Future: Engineered in Both Directions

So what does this mean for the rest of us? In a word: evolution. The Shanghai hub won’t just shape China-specific models — its learnings will ripple back to Germany, influencing global R&D. Expect smarter infotainment, faster development cycles, and maybe even electric drivetrains fine-tuned with input from the world’s most tech-hungry drivers.

Porsche’s Hongqiao R&D centre isn’t just a new address — it’s a declaration that the future of driving luxury won’t be dictated from one continent alone.

And if history’s any guide, when Porsche puts its crest on something — be it a car, an algorithm, or a whole new way of thinking — it usually ends up rewriting the rules.

Source: Porsche

For more than a century, Bugatti has stood at the intersection of engineering brilliance and high art — a brand that doesn’t just build cars, but creates rolling sculptures for the world’s most uncompromising collectors. Now, as the marque enters a new chapter under Bugatti Rimac, it’s extending that vision eastward.

Welcome to Bugatti Shanghai, the brand’s first dedicated showroom in mainland China — and a statement of intent for a market that’s rapidly becoming one of the world’s most influential luxury hubs.

A Jewel in the Heart of Shanghai

Nestled in the bustling core of China’s largest metropolis, Bugatti Shanghai isn’t your typical dealership. The space, developed in partnership with long-time regional collaborator Kingsway Apex, was designed to Bugatti’s exacting global standards — part art gallery, part private salon, and entirely immersive.

Visitors are greeted not by sales desks or spec sheets, but by an atmosphere that blurs the line between atelier and museum. This is where the story of Bugatti’s past and future collide — a brand built on Molsheim heritage and now propelled by Rimac’s technological audacity.

A Divo Makes a Grand Entrance

The showroom’s grand opening was more than a ribbon-cutting ceremony — it was a celebration of rarity. On display was the Bugatti Divo, one of just 40 examples ever built, making its first public appearance in China. Its sculpted aerodynamics and unmistakable presence underscored the message: this new Shanghai destination isn’t about volume, but about vision.

The Divo’s arrival follows the Chinese debut of Bugatti’s latest masterpiece, the Tourbillon, earlier this year — a hybrid hypercar that signals the brand’s move into a bold new electrified era while maintaining its devotion to craftsmanship and visceral performance.

The event was graced by some of Bugatti’s biggest names, including CEO Mate Rimac, Managing Director Hendrik Malinowski, and Regional Director Kostas Psarris, who each emphasized the significance of China’s growing passion for mechanical artistry and design purity.

“Shanghai – a city where tradition and innovation converge – is the ideal location for our first brand showroom in mainland China,” said Malinowski. “It’s a destination where clients can truly experience the unparalleled Bugatti universe.”

Beyond Cars: The Bugatti Lifestyle

Stepping into Bugatti Shanghai, one quickly realizes that this isn’t just about cars — it’s about the Bugatti way of life. The showroom also features a temporary Bugatti Home exhibition, developed by Luxury Living Group, that translates the marque’s automotive DNA into interior design.

Highlights include the TYPE_3 sofa and ottoman in Voltaic Blue — their curves echoing the fluidity of Bugatti’s hypercars — as well as the TYPE_11 side table, whose sweeping form incorporates the brand’s signature “C” line. Even the TYPE_14 rug draws inspiration from the aerodynamic silhouettes of Molsheim’s finest machines.

As Albert Wong, Principal of Kingsway Apex, puts it:
“This showroom is a statement of commitment — offering Chinese clients direct access to the full Bugatti experience. Every detail mirrors the exceptional quality of our cars and the bespoke journey our customers expect.”

A Strategic Step East

For Bugatti, the Shanghai opening isn’t just about selling cars — it’s about deepening roots in a market that reveres craftsmanship as much as power. China’s luxury automotive scene has matured rapidly over the past decade, and the appetite for hyper-exclusive vehicles has followed suit.

By establishing a permanent presence in Shanghai, Bugatti isn’t chasing volume; it’s cultivating legacy. The city’s unique blend of modern ambition and cultural heritage provides a fitting stage for a brand that’s as much about artistry as it is about engineering.

In the words of Mate Rimac, Bugatti’s evolution is “not about making more cars, but about making the best cars.” With Bugatti Shanghai, the marque isn’t just opening doors — it’s opening a new chapter.

Bugatti’s first showroom in mainland China is more than a business move; it’s a cultural handshake. It symbolizes how the world’s oldest names in automotive luxury are finding renewed relevance in markets defined by innovation and sophistication.

Shanghai may be a long way from Molsheim, but the spirit is the same: relentless pursuit of perfection. And for Bugatti, that pursuit now has a new home address — right in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

Source: Bugatti

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