On November 5, the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai under the theme "New Era, Shared Future." Nearly 3,500 exhibitors from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations gathered to engage with buyers, promoting deep cooperation and aiming for a prosperous shared future.
This year's CIIE is highlighted by setting many records and featuring many innovations and "firsts" with numerous cutting-edge technologies of their debuts.
"Air Taxi" Makes Global Debut at the CIIE
The low-altitude economy has surged this year, drawing significant investment as cities nationwide compete to become leaders in this trillion-dollar industry. At CIIE, Guangdong-based Yufeng Future Flight Technology Co., Ltd. showcased its "air taxi" M1 eVTOL, a fully manned aircraft that stole the show as the largest and most attention-grabbing exhibit at the event.
This global debut of the M1 features a sleek black-and-white design, with a wingspan of 15 meters and a fuselage length of 10 meters. According to Yufeng Future founder and CEO Xie Ling, the M1 is powered by electricity and equipped with a composite wing structure, four forward-facing rotors, and 16 vertical rotors. Weighing 2.5 tons, it offers fully autonomous, unmanned flight with a range of 250 kilometers on a single charge, reaching cruising speeds of up to 200 km/h.
Inside, the M1's seagull-wing doors open to a spacious cabin seating five passengers, boasting a carrying capacity similar to that of a mid-to-large SUV. "The M1's 20 propellers provide ample safety redundancy, allowing for a safe landing even if three rotors fail. The fully electric design also enables zero emissions and low noise, so it's no need for passengers to wear noise-canceling headphones," Xie added.
Lunar Rover Tire Makes Asia Debut, Built for Extreme Conditions
Making its fourth appearance at CIIE, Michelin from France introduced a non-inflatable tire designed for lunar rovers, drawing substantial interest. "This is a groundbreaking product, unlike anything currently available," said Cai Hongcheng, Michelin China's Brand Communication Manager. Engineered to withstand temperatures from over 100°C to below -240°C, the tire maintains stability under extreme conditions. It also handles rugged terrain, ensuring sensitive instruments are protected from errors or damage caused by impacts.
Mentioning the tire's materials, Cai cited proprietary technology, explaining that details remain confidential due to commercial considerations. "This tire represents Michelin's forward-thinking approach, as humanity expands its exploration beyond Earth," he added.
"Garlic E" Offers Innovations in Microbial Control for Food and Aquatic Safety
A new antimicrobial material called "Garlic E" drew attention at CIIE for its potential in food preservation and biosafety. Developed by Jiang Biao, Director of the CAS Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok) and his team, along with the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of CAS, "Garlic E" addresses various microbial control needs, extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and reducing spoilage. For instance, after six days at room temperature (25°C), blueberries treated with Garlic E showed only a 5% spoilage rate, compared to 50% for untreated ones.
Lin Huali, CEO of Shanghai Landcent Biotechnology Co., Ltd., highlighted that Landcent had also developed fresh-keeping paper pads, sponge pads, and mist sterilizers utilizing Garlic E technology. These products can be customized to different produce needs. Lin added that Landcent planned to collaborate with research institutions to explore Garlic E's broader applications in fruit tree preservation, aquaculture, livestock health, environmental sanitation, soil remediation, and biomedicine, furthering advances in biosafety within the life sciences sector.
