Shanghai-Stuttgart-Symposium on Automotive and Powertrain Technology

The Shanghai-Stuttgart-Symposium is a conference that aims to share cutting-edge research results between experts and scholars from Germany, China and abroad. The two-day conference takes place in China, Shanghai and gathers international experts in the field of automotive and powertrain technology. In addition to the presentations, the conference includes an exhibition.

Review: Shanghai-Stuttgart-Symposium 2025

On 22 and 23 May, the 2025 Shanghai-Stuttgart-Symposium offered a top-class program with exciting impulses, groundbreaking lectures and an inspiring panel discussion. International experts from industry and science came together in Shanghai to discuss key challenges of future mobility in the core topics of Automotive Aerodynamics, Stability and Thermal Comfort as well as Automotive Powertrain System.

On day one, keynotes from high-ranking representatives from Gasgoo, Li Auto, Nio, DEKRA and SAIC Volkswagen and FKFS took place providing in-depth insights into current research priorities and strategic challenges. Some of the highlights were: 

• Tina ZHOU (Gasgoo) gave an impressive account of how China's automotive market has developed into a global driver of innovation in her presentation "Redefining China's Automotive Market Value". With over 200 million skilled workers, a leading position in manufacturing and remarkable innovative strength, she underlined China's role as a global pacesetter in the industry.
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Wagner (FKFS) spoke on the topic of “Future Challenges in Driving Dynamics”. He showed how the use of artificial intelligence in the chassis can help to efficiently meet increasing demands for comfort and safety.
• In his presentation “Powertrain Solutions and the Role of Diversity”, Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Kulzer (FKFS) explained why the diversity of powertrain technologies is crucial to achieving CO₂ targets in the long term.
• In his keynote speech “Innovation and Practice of Dedicated Hybrid Transmission Configuration in China”, Prof. XU Xiangyang (Beihang University) looked back on China's technological development: from a learner (until 2018) to a technology leader from 2023 – with self-confident innovations in the field of hybrid drives.
• Prof. Martin Schuster (SAIC Volkswagen) highlighted the status of automated driving in China in his presentation “How China sets Trends in Assisted Driving”. Due to safety-related restrictions, Level 3 automated driving is not permitted there. Instead, high-performance Level 2+ and Level 2++ systems are used, which already enable functions such as “Park-to-Park”, autonomous parking from one parking garage to another. Schuster emphasized Volkswagen's strategy in China: “German engineering meets Chinese speed and expertise”.

Panel discussion: “How AI is reshaping the Automotive Industry – Opportunities and Challenges”

The first day concluded with a panel discussion in which German and Chinese experts debated the potential and challenges of artificial intelligence in vehicle development. The focus was on the question of how data-driven action can enable new capabilities in vehicles with the help of AI – for complex traffic situations, for example. The consensus was that the integration of AI requires a fundamentally new development process that questions and rethinks traditional structures. Here too, the aim remains to combine German precision with Chinese speed of implementation in order to bring innovations to the road faster and more reliably.

The participants were:

• HUANG Yanjun, Professor at Tongji University
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Wagner, Member of the Board of Management of FKFS
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Casal Kulzer, Member of the Board of Management of FKFS
• Prof. Martin Schuster, Senior Director Research & Engineering, SAIC Volkswagen
• BI Lu, Assistant Vice President of NIO Electric Drive and High Voltage Systems Division

On day two, 40 technical presentations on topics such as EV, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen, Battery, Connected Driving, Thermal Management and Aerodynamics followed.

The 2025 Shanghai-Stuttgart-Symposium, organized by Tongji University, the Institute of Automotive Engineering, IFS, of University of Stuttgart and FKFS, once again proved to be a successful platform for Sino-German collaboration – bringing together science and industry to jointly shape the future of mobility.

Further information

Download the conference brochures for participants and for sponsorship.

Find more information on the official website!

Topics of 2025

Automotive Aerodynamics and Stability  Aerodynamic Drag Reduction Aerodynamic Acoustic Optimization Thermal management and Thermal Comfort Aerodynamic Effect on Vehicle Dynamics

Vehicular Powertrain System  Drivetrain System (ICE, EM, Hybrid Drivetrain) Electric Power Sources (Battery, Fuel Cell) Intelligent Control of Powertrain System