Porsche kicked off the Shanghai Auto Show on April 19 by unveiling the Panamera, the German automaker's first foray into the luxury sedan segment. It said its decision to reveal the vehicle in China signals the rising importance of the country's auto market.

Porsche's Panamera S is unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 19. AP PHOTO

"This is a clear signal that we count on these markets and have full confidence in their future economic potential," Porsche Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking said in a statement.

The four-door Panamera will be built at Porsche's plant in Leipzig, Germany.