The 2025 Tainan Auto Show, held from February 27 to March 2 at the ICC Tainan (southern Taiwan) has quickly established itself as one of the region’s automotive highlights, drawing both industry attention and public fascination. In just its third year (having begun in 2023), the event shattered scale records, hosting over 110 exhibitors packed into 550 booths. This makes it southern Taiwan’s largest car event, pivotal for car lovers and professionals seeking the latest in vehicle launches, electrification, and aftermarket solutions. 

Going in, the community’s narrative revolved around electric vehicles and new energy models, with major brands teasing launches and Tainan’s economic bureau touting a forum on smart EVs and future market trends. There was also plenty of talk about how the convention center’s expanded layout and high booth density might play out. Would it lead to “clean air” for each brand’s showcase, or just more traffic jams in the aisles? By opening morning, anticipation for marquee unveilings from Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, VOLVO, and homegrown challengers like HSBC Motors was paired with curiosity about crowd handling and whether the special motorsports and EV zones would deliver on hype.

The event enjoyed strong crowds from the start and a relentless parade of new models across categories. Six exhibition areas were humming, from supercar “flash events” and imported motorcycle stunts to deep dives on EV and two-wheeler tech. The packed exhibitor roster meant continual launches. Hyundai, MG, Honda, and Nissan all brought fresh models, with electric scooters from Kymco, Gogoro, and SYM buzzing alongside classics. Several supplier booths saw heavy traffic throughout the four days, with the Auto Parts Industry Forum on day one creating an anchor for B2B networking. On the show’s closing day, official figures clocked over 60,000 visitors: a new high for Tainan, sharply higher than previous years and validating the event’s growing pull.

Conditions were mild for late winter (no extreme heat), which meant thermal management, at least for display vehicles, never dominated headlines. However, the expanded layout presented “clean air” advantages for some brands; product demos ran longer without congestion-induced stops, and those leveraging advanced material displays or EV cooling discussions found steady interest. The spacious new EV section, plus visibility for emerging composites and brake system upgrades, cemented a theme: today’s audience cares just as much about tech as about horsepower.

As someone who works in PPF and follows trends in paint finishes and material science, I was quietly amused by how many booths used detailed thermal cameras and exposure rigs to highlight new clear coats and wrap resilience. It’s a subtle shift, more about evidence and data than sizzle, but it signals that surface quality and heat management matter as much as spec sheets for buyers now.

In summary, the 2025 Tainan Auto Show beat both logistic and attendance expectations, showcased more than 20 new vehicle brands, and celebrated its new record with 60,000 plus visitors. Top outcomes: Mercedes-Benz, VOLVO, Tesla, and MG drew the largest crowds for new launches.  Industry forums kept the future focus sharp. Tainan’s show is now a calendar must in Taiwan, setting the stage for a busier, tech-driven regional car scene.

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Wessen Char is UPPF’s petrolhead who still mourns the loss of Saab (and drove her 9-5 NG till 2025). She travels between US and Europe to cover auto events. She acknowledges the chic tech of EVs but wonders if the inexorable move to everything digital is ultimately all-better. Analogue had more soul somehow :)

 

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