Can you imagine a future where city transportation will be free from emission, petroleum, traffic jams and accidents? This is exactly the vision the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation – General Motors Pavilion presents at the ongoing Shanghai World Expo.

SAIC-developed YeZ (left) on display at the SAIC-GM Pavilion.[Yuan Fang/China.org.cn]

Themed "Drive to 2030," the pavilion offers visitors an exhilarating ride to the year 2030, with a 12-minute 4-D film to show the future of urban transportation.

In the short film, the future of cars and traffic are promising: Cars are all electric and can drive on their own; people no longer have trouble finding parking lots; there are no traffic lights on the roads and cars move freely; and no families will grieve the loss of loved ones in traffic accidents. Mobility is easier and faster, leaving people more time for family and friends.

The film is not just sending good wishes; the scenes it depicts can be turned into reality in the next two decades, according to Liu Qi, executive vice managing director of the pavilion.

Jin Qi (left), managing director and Liu Qi, executive vice managing director of SAIC-GM Pavilion.[Yuan Fang/China.org.cn]

Liu said that the pavilion team spent almost a year discussing the biggest problems facing urban transportation and exploring possible solutions with 27 experts from the fields of city planning, energy, transportation and information technology. The team also conducted a survey in six Chinese cities to learn how urban residents want to improve transportation.