Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Private Chinese investors sought to fund $6 billion auto plant in Mississippi ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/report-private-chinese-investors-sought-to-fund-6-billion-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/report-private-chinese-investors-sought-to-fund-6-billion-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/report-private-chinese-investors-sought-to-fund-6-billion-auto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Corp. rendering - click above to enlarge

The headline is attention-grabbing. A former Chinese auto executive is proposing a $6 billion plant in economically-distressed north Mississippi that will employ 25,000 people and produce one million cars a year.

Automotive News' story is both intriguing and complicated - and not just because three players are named Wang, one is named Yang - so buckle up for the short-and-sweet Autoblog version.

Yang Rong was once China's third-richest man as the CEO of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. But after some disagreements with a Chinese government official in 2002, Yang fled the country and settled in Los Angeles.

Cars are only one of the reasons Yang wants to build $6.5 billion plant in Mississippi (that's six times the cost of Toyota's Mississippi plant, by the way). Another is green cards. When Yang left China, he also left his fortune and has apparently been unable to recoup any of it. It's a scary scenario that many wealthy Chinese fear: upset the government, lose your money. But the U.S. government makes it easy for Chinese residents to both invest their cash in America, as well as move here. Invest a minimum of $500,000 in an economically distressed region of the U.S., creating at least 10 jobs, and you get permanent resident status.

Vincent Wang, an associate of Yang's, says Italdesign Giugiaro is designing the new venture's cars, and documents show Porsche AG providing "our car's engineering design." Giugiaro confirms it has talked with the group, Porsche essentially says it has no comment. Such a controversial car must be powered by something just as unusual, right? Oh, yeah. The CEO of the project, C.T. Wang, tells Automotive News, the cars will be "powered by a combination of gasoline, electric, hybrid and compressed-natural-gas powertrains."

Yang calls his project, Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Holdings, Ltd. One of Yang's former associates has split from the group and also plans to build an automotive plant. That company is now called GreenTree Automotive, after being forced to change its name from Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Corp. Yeah. 'Cause that would have just been too confusing.

And where in Mississippi would someone go to gamble $6.5 billion on an automotive plant? Tunica County, of course. Home to nine of the Hospitality State's approximately 30 casinos.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req.]

REPORT: Private Chinese investors sought to fund $6 billion auto plant in Mississippi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brilliancebrilliance autobrilliance chinaBrillianceAutoBrillianceChinac.t. wangC.t.Wangchinagamblinggiugiarogreentree automotiveGreentreeAutomotivehospitality stateHospitalityStatehybrid kinetic automotive corp.hybrid kinetic automotive holdingsHybridKineticAutomotiveCorp.HybridKineticAutomotiveHoldingsmississippiporscheporsche agPorscheAgtunicatunicacountyyang rongYangRongMon, 31 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris Hilton offered chance to win back Bentley]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/paris-hilton-offered-chance-to-win-back-bentley/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/paris-hilton-offered-chance-to-win-back-bentley/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/paris-hilton-offered-chance-to-win-back-bentley/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


PartyPoker.com is offering Paris Hilton a chance to win back the Bentley Continental GT she lost in a poker game at her family's Las Vegas casino... or at least one just like it.

The online poker house appears to be taking a crack at competitor GoldenPalace.com's publicity playbook, best known for paying $28,000 for the fabled Virgin Mary cheese sandwich auctioned on eBay and tatooing their website's address on professional boxers to circumvent advertising rules. So what does the heiress and Simple Life star have to reassert her Bentley ownership? Win heads-up against World Poker Tour host Mike Sexton in an online game of Texas Hold 'Em. Those thoughtful folks are even willing to set up a face-to-face, one-on-one with the professional poker player if cyber gambling isn't her thing.

Paris has 30 days to take them up on the offer.

[Source: PRNewswire via Big-Online-Casinos.com]

Paris Hilton offered chance to win back Bentley originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CasinoContinental GTContinentalGtgamblingGolden PalaceGoldenPalaceGoldenpalace.comHiltonLas VegasLasVegasMike SextonMikeSextonNicole RitcheyNicoleRitcheyOnline PokerOnlinePokerParis HiltonParisHiltonParty PokerPartyPokerPartypoker.comSimple LifeSimpleLifeTexas Hold EmTexasHoldEmWorld Poker TourWorldPokerTourWPTTue, 25 Apr 2006 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[GM set to open Las Vegas "autotainment" park]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/06/gm-set-to-open-las-vegas-autotainment-park/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/06/gm-set-to-open-las-vegas-autotainment-park/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/06/gm-set-to-open-las-vegas-autotainment-park/#commentsFiled under: , ,



"The Drive," GM's outdoor "autotainment" driving experience is set to open in Las Vegas at the Sahara Hotel & Casino April 10, and GM wants you to start planning it into your next trip to Sin City.

The Drive includes two separate driving courses on the 11-acre site, a high-performance loop (pictured above) and an off-road adventure. According to Steve Tihanyi, GM's director of marketing and entertainment alliances (!), "'The Drive' represents a significant marketing opportunity for General Motors, allowing us to showcase our products in a unique fashion that will provide a fun-filled time for the millions of people who live in or visit Las Vegas."

A $10 ticket gets you a ride in your choice of the Chevy Corvette coupe and convertible, Pontiac GTO, Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac Solstice roadster, Cadillac STS-V, Saab 9-3 convertible, and Chevy SSR on the performance track, or the HUMMER H2, HUMMER H2 SUT, mid-size HUMMER H3, 2007 Cadillac Escalade, 2006 Chevy Silverado Diesel and the 2007 Chevy Tahoe on one of the two dirt tracks.

If you're planning a trip to Vegas, you can get tickets to The Drive online at VEGAS.com or LasVegas.com.

[Source: GM]

GM set to open Las Vegas "autotainment" park originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autotainmentcasinogamblinglas vegastest drivetest trackthe driveTheDrivevacationvegasThu, 06 Apr 2006 15:03:00 EST