Chinese basketball star Yao Ming waves to the crowd as he appears at the Shanghai Auto Show during the opening day, April 19, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

SHANGHAI - BMW, one of the top auto brands in China, got a little help from Chinese basketball star Yao Ming to launch an electric concept car at the Shanghai auto show.

Related readings:  Yao Ming attends 2011 Shanghai Auto Show  Yao Ming in Boao for youth leaders meeting  Yao Ming attends BFA Young Leaders Roundtalbe  Yao Ming to attend Boao Forum for Asia

The Houston Rockets center made a surprise appearance Tuesday at the German automaker's display as it unveiled a plug-in hybrid sedan based on the 5 Series. The car will be produced with BMW's joint venture partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd and is set to go into production in 2013.

Yao towered over a BMW executive as he praised the car's eco-friendliness. Throngs of people from the media and auto industry crowded around the BMW stand to take pictures of Yao, who stands 2.3 meters tall.