①The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opens today with over 4,000 domestic and international exhibitors; ②Technological transformations in medical equipment and transportation logistics are the most prominent; ③Localization of surgical robots is accelerating, with domestic manufacturers beginning to target overseas markets; ④Tesla's Cybercab has drawn significant attention, with its steering wheel-free design sparking a new round of technological competition.
Cailian Press, November 5th, by reporters Luo Yuchen and Zhang Xiaoyu — The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened today in Shanghai. Exhibitors from around the world cover multiple industries including medical devices, automotive mobility, technological equipment, and consumer goods. Cutting-edge products from various global sectors are showcased together, adding more technological vibrancy to the CIIE.
This year’s CIIE features over 4,000 exhibitors, with technological transformations being most prominent in the medical equipment and transportation logistics sectors.
In the field of medical equipment, a number of high-end precision products are entering the domestic market at an accelerated pace. Fosun Pharma (600196.SH) showcased for the first time at this conference the fully imported Marie upright particle therapy system. At the same time, the company is also expediting the localization of imported surgical robots, displaying a domestically produced version of the da Vinci Surgical System. WeDoctor, a domestic surgical robot startup, stated that the localization rate of their robotic products has now reached 80%, with one percutaneous nephrolithotomy surgical robot expected to achieve substantial shipments in regions along the Belt and Road, such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
In the transportation and logistics sector, autonomous driving technology remains the focal point of competition. Tesla's autonomous taxi, Cybercab, which prominently features a steering wheel-free design, is igniting a new wave of technological rivalry. Among domestic manufacturers, GAC Group and XPeng Motors are both advancing similar technological strategies. In relatively simpler industrial scenarios, the application of autonomous driving technology is more mature. Exhibitor Westwell Tech has already deployed products such as autonomous transport vehicles, tractors, and battery swap stations.
High-end medical devices come in, while domestically produced surgical robots go global.
The Marie upright particle therapy system, exhibited for the first time by Fosun Pharma. Photo source: Cailian Press reporter.
As a pharmaceutical enterprise with an international presence, Fosun Pharma has successively introduced several high-precision medical devices from abroad. At this conference, the company unveiled the Marie upright particle therapy system for the first time. This product received FDA approval for marketing in the United States in July this year.
A company representative noted that traditional particle therapy systems, due to their large rotating gantry, require an area spanning three floors. This new product, however, only occupies a single floor. Combined with other technical upgrades, cost savings amount to hundreds of millions. It is understood that particle therapy centers are primarily used for radiation treatment of tumors and are known for their exorbitant costs. The proton therapy center at Guangzhou Concord Cancer Hospital had a total investment exceeding RMB 3 billion.
Near the particle therapy system, Fosun Pharma displayed two da Vinci Surgical Systems, one imported and the other domestically produced, with no significant differences in appearance between the two. It is reported that the da Vinci series is a product under Intuitive Surgical, and Fosun Pharma introduced it as an agent and has since begun domestic production.
As a representative product in the field of endoscopic surgical robots, the da Vinci robot demonstrates significant technological advantages over similar domestic products. As of the end of September 2025, the da Vinci surgical robot has been installed in more than 370 hospitals across mainland China and Hong Kong and Macao, with a cumulative total of over 480 installations.
Weid Precision is showcasing its percutaneous interventional intelligent surgical robot. (Photo source: Reporter from Cailian Press)
In the field of non-endoscopic surgical robots, the technological gap between domestic and foreign manufacturers is not significant. Shenzhen-based Weid Precision showcased its first percutaneous interventional surgical robot, primarily used for lung and abdominal puncture surgeries. The product has obtained Class III medical device registration certification and has been put into use in the domestic market. A company representative stated: “Considering the differences in medical conditions between domestic and international markets, our product incorporates 3D reconstruction capabilities, enabling three-dimensional reconstruction based on CT imaging—a feature absent in similar foreign products, making it technologically superior.”
It is reported that Weid Precision’s second surgical robot focuses on percutaneous nephrolithotomy and is currently under review. This product is the world's first percutaneous interventional robot based on ultrasound imaging, suitable for less-developed medical regions where CT technology remains immature and ultrasound detection is still predominantly relied upon. The company expects to achieve large-scale shipments in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, areas with high incidences of kidney stones.
Unmanned technology has become a focal point in the transportation industry, with leading manufacturers competing to establish comprehensive ecosystem layouts.
In addition to cutting-edge products in the medical field demonstrating market potential, at this conference, logistics and transportation companies are also iterating their products around unmanned technology. Leading firms have begun to exhibit ecosystem advantages.
Visitors viewing the Cybercab at Tesla's booth. (Photo source: Reporter from Cailian Press)
As one of the most popular exhibitors at this conference, Tesla showcased products including the Cybercab, humanoid robots, and the Solar Roof. Sun Jiaze, General Manager of Tesla’s Shanghai region, painted a vision of future living for reporters from Cailian Press: “Sunlight is converted into electricity, fully charged vehicles drive autonomously, robots take care of pets and clean the house—giving you more time to enjoy life.”
Reporters from Cailian Press observed at the exhibition site that many visitors gathered around the Cybercab, either pausing to discuss its appearance and lack of steering wheel with companions or inquiring about specific details such as price range, actual driving range, and launch timing from booth staff. Tesla emphasized how this autonomous taxi (Robotaxi) pushes technology and environmental friendliness to the extreme, featuring characteristics such as being “specifically designed for AI,” “lacking a steering wheel and pedals,” “electroplated without the need for painting,” “capable of traveling approximately 10 kilometers on one kilowatt-hour of electricity,” and “suitable for both passenger transport and cargo delivery.” Additionally, Tesla noted that Tesla robots may eventually clean the Cybercab in the future.
Public information indicates that the Cybercab is expected to begin mass production in the second quarter of 2026. The Robotaxi industry, to which it belongs, is at a critical inflection point regarding the removal of steering wheels. Currently, mainstream Robotaxis on the market are equipped with steering wheels but offer services with or without safety drivers. As technology continues to evolve, steering wheel-free Robotaxis have become the next-generation products fiercely contested by manufacturers. In addition to Tesla, Amazon’s Zoox and GAC’s ROBOTAXI also adopt steering wheel-free designs, while XPeng Motors recently announced the resumption of its Robotaxi business, proposing that “the system has the potential to eliminate the steering wheel.”
The autonomous driving tractor Q-Tractor from Westwell. Photo source: Reporter/Photo from Cailian Press.
The complexity of public transportation has, to a certain extent, slowed the penetration of unmanned driving technology. However, in relatively simple and closed environments such as ports and industrial parks, the commercial progress of unmanned driving is significantly faster. Westwell, a smart logistics provider, was the first to eliminate the driver's cab in its new energy unmanned transport vehicle, Q-Truck.
"In 2023 (with the Port of Felixstowe, UK), we signed an order for 100 units, and last month, they placed an additional batch of orders." A company representative stated that at this exhibition, Westwell showcased its latest product, the autonomous driving tractor Q-Tractor, along with other products such as the company’s battery swapping station. In Westwell's plan, an all-scenario intelligent logistics solution is beginning to take shape, capable of serving diverse logistics scenarios including seaports, airports, factories, and industrial parks.
