Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NEVS to build new Saab models in China's Qingdao]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/nevs-to-build-new-saab-models-in-chinas-qingdao/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/nevs-to-build-new-saab-models-in-chinas-qingdao/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/nevs-to-build-new-saab-models-in-chinas-qingdao/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Saab Emblem

National Electric Vehicle Sweden has officially signed a deal with Qingdao Qingbo Investment Company that will see the NEVS build EVs in Qingdao, China. The move is the first step on the road toward eventually selling vehicles in China. Reuters reports that the Chinese company has agreed to invest $307.33 million, after which point Qingdao Qingbo will receive 22 percent of the NEVS shares. Currently, there's no word on exactly when the funds and shares will change hands, but the Swedish automaker has previously said it fully intends to launch its first EV by early 2014.

NEVS has also made waves about potentially building a version of the old Saab 9-3 with a traditional internal combustion driveline. Currently, the manufacturer says it plans to ship the vehicles it builds in Sweden to the Qingdao port and distribute them to the rest of China from there. Later down the line, a manufacturing facility in Qingdao will supply the country with Chinese-built Saab models.

NEVS to build new Saab models in China's Qingdao originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>national electic vehicle swedennevsqingdaoqingdao qingboqingdao qingbo investment companysaabThu, 10 Jan 2013 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20423829/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/10/nevs-to-build-new-saab-models-in-chinas-qingdao/20423829/article-detail.xml 20423829 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/saab-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/saab-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[China's IndyCar race cancelled due to... beer festival?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/14/chinas-indycar-race-cancelled-due-to-beer-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/14/chinas-indycar-race-cancelled-due-to-beer-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/14/chinas-indycar-race-cancelled-due-to-beer-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Indycar series logoIn China, as in most countries, drinking and driving don't mix. Not even when the driving is done by professional IndyCar drivers and the drinking is done miles away at a sanctioned beer festival.

Qingdao, China, announced in November that it was to host its first IndyCar race on August 19. The date was apparently chosen intentionally to coincide with the city's annual International Beer Festival.

But in March, the city elected a new mayor, and the new official apparently doesn't find any merit in the idea of holding two huge events concurrently, so he promptly cancelled the less important event. That would be the IndyCar race, of course. In his defense, Qingdao is the hometown of the Tsingtao Brewery and has held their beer fest the same weekend since 1991.

IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard now must find a replacement date for the race and there is speculation that a second date at Texas Motor Speedway on Oct. 7 is among the possibilities. That could work out better, seeing as how Dallas-Fort Worth had its beer festival back in April. Wherever the replacement race is run, it will be the final race of the season.

Bernard tells Sports Illustrated, "I don't think we need a decision right this minute," he said. "When we do it, we need to do it right and make sure it's the best fit for the series and the schedule and the championship race."

China's IndyCar race cancelled due to... beer festival? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beer festbeer festivalchinachina+indycar+racechinaindycarraceindycarindycar seriesindycar+chinaindycarchinaqindao international beer festivalqingdaorandy bernardThu, 14 Jun 2012 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20258415/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/14/chinas-indycar-race-cancelled-due-to-beer-festival/20258415/article-detail.xml 20258415 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/indycar-logo-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/indycar-logo-opt.jpg <![CDATA[IndyCar races into China for the first time]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/13/indycar-racing-into-china-for-the-first-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/13/indycar-racing-into-china-for-the-first-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/13/indycar-racing-into-china-for-the-first-time/#commentsFiled under: ,

Qingdao

China is a huge market, not just for automakers, but for all sorts of American businesses. Those include sponsors involved with racing series like IndyCar. When those sponsors told IndyCar that they wanted to see racing in China, series organizers sprung to action. As a result, the IZOD IndyCar Series will visit world's second largest economy next season.

The race is scheduled for August 19, 2012, on the streets of Qingdao, a coastal city on the Yellow Sea situated between Beijing and Shanghai. Known as China's Switzerland due to its historic German and French influences, Qingdao hosted the sailing competitions for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Until a more permanent venue can be constructed, the race will be held on a temporary 3.87-mile street circuit.

It replaces the race at Motegi in Japan - the only race in Asia ever held by a major American open-wheel series (CART, Champ Car or IndyCar) - which was campaigned for the last time this season. The majority of the remaining races on next year's calendar will all be contested in the United States, save for Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Toronto and Edmonton races in Canada. The development coincides with the emergence this year of Ho-Pin Tung as the first Chinese driver in American open-wheel racing, which should make the Qingdao race even more compelling for local fans.

IndyCar races into China for the first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaindyindycarindycar seriesqingdaoyellow seaSun, 13 Nov 2011 14:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20105223/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/13/indycar-racing-into-china-for-the-first-time/20105223/article-detail.xml 20105223 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/qingdao_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/qingdao.jpg <![CDATA[Sweet ride: Chinese celebrate Valentine's Day with chocolate covered car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/chinese-celebrate-valentines-day-with-chocolate-covered-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/chinese-celebrate-valentines-day-with-chocolate-covered-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/chinese-celebrate-valentines-day-with-chocolate-covered-car/#commentsFiled under: ,



Now here's a Valentine's story we can sink our teeth into. A Chinese car company decided to dunk a New Beetle in chocolate and put it on display outside a grocery store in Qingdao, in the Shandong Province, all in an effort to celebrate Valentine's Day. Seven workers from this local company took 200 kg (440 pounds) of melted chocolate and spread it over the VW after wrapping it in plastic wrap. They even finished it off with candy decorations that included flowers and lettering that spelled out "love."

Thanks or the tip, Spluch!

[Source: China News via Spluch]

Sweet ride: Chinese celebrate Valentine's Day with chocolate covered car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocolate covered carChocolateCoveredCarQingdaoShandong ProvinceShandongProvinceValentine’s DayValentine’sDayThu, 15 Feb 2007 15:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/754642/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/02/15/chinese-celebrate-valentines-day-with-chocolate-covered-car/754642/article-detail.xml 754642 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/chocolatebeetle_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/chocolatebeetle.jpg -1 2