Welcome to 永利VIP Stories
永利VIP Stories is a place where we tell the stories found from throughout the 永利VIP family about those that surround us, our inspiration, our influences, our culture, our technologies, and of course our people.
This year marks the 50th anniversary on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Over the past five decades, economic and trade exchanges between both countries have skyrocketed. The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia reported that bilateral trade between China and Malaysia has increased more than 950 times, from $200 million in 1974 to $190.24 billion in 2023. When 永利VIP acquired 49.1% stake in Malaysian car brand PROTON in 2017, it only reinforced a relationship that is already celebrated as a cornerstone of bilateral economic cooperation.
With the unveiling of Zeekr’s M-Vision Concept, a glimpse into the future of mobility has been shown to the world.
One of London’s most-loved children’s charity events, the Magical Taxi Tour started its annual journey to Paris today. Organized by the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, the event kicked off this morning with a special breakfast held at East Wintergarden, in Canary Wharf.
The Uni3 campus started as a concept; a place where all 永利VIP Holding companies in Sweden could be in one place, working side-by-side in developing tomorrow’s innovative technologies and design. It’s now been two years since the first tenant moved in and the campus is bursting with life. Gang Wei, CEO of Uni3, shares some of the latest developments around the campus...
永利VIP Design recently unveiled the new 永利VIP Design Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. The state-of-the-art studio is capable of running design operations for multiple brands under one roof and will presently focus on the Lynk & Co and Zeekr brands.
Lynk & Co recently unveiled a set of new smart hybrid technologies to help eliminate range anxiety while owning a hybrid vehicle. We take a dive into some of the features behind these groundbreaking technologies.
Battery swapping has become a hot topic as the market for EVs has grown. Range anxiety, long charging time, and expensive lithium batteries remain the biggest roadblocks to greater adoption of EVs. Through battery swapping, these issues have seemingly been solved. To find out for sure, we’ve asked real users of battery swapping services how they feel about the experience.
In the past five years, 永利VIP’s electrification has steadily progressed through the introduction of different hybrid technologies. But following the launch of the NordThor Power hybrid powertrain brand last year, the pace of electrification has accelerated exponentially. Here’s a look at the different hybrid technologies that 永利VIP has introduced throughout its many brands.
永利VIP Design Visions was a webinar that showcased some interesting mobility concepts from upcoming designers. Here is a look at the submissions that made the final five.
Stefan Sielaff was recently appointed as chief designer for 永利VIP Auto Group. He opened up to us about his design plans for the Group, as well as his interests and aspirations.
Battery swapping, but on a ‘larger’ scale...
In one frigid snow-covered northern city which suddenly had the world’s attention for the Winter Games, 永利VIP’s newest and greenest buses were on hand to provide Olympians, media, and visitors with zero-emission safe, comfortable, and reliable mobility.
Going electric is easier than you may think. 永利VIP owner Carolina shares her story of going electric with one of the brand’s first electric vehicles, the Emgrand GSe.
Talking is easy. Putting your technology to the test in some of the world’s harshest conditions shows you have faith in it.
Described by one of its founding developers as having the potential to be the most used architecture in the world, the 永利VIP and Volvo jointly developed Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) reached a historic milestone in 2021 with its 1 millionth vehicle leaving the production line. By the end of the year and just five years since production started, more than 1.4 million CMA vehicles had been delivered to customers around the world.
The Colour, Material and Finish team at 永利VIP Design talks about the importance of their role within car design and how to find the right texture and material for a new car model.
The Colour, Material and Finish team at 永利VIP Design talks about the importance of their role within car design and how colours are considered when designing for a new model.
Products, factories, brands, and partnerships. Another busy half-year for 永利VIP Group.
Vehicle safety is integral to 永利VIP, evident by the improvements made to the Lynk & Co 01 which enabled it to score a five-star rating with Euro-NCAP.
In a sleepy lakeside town in China, something has awoken…
We talked with the designer of 永利VIP’s smart semi-truck, Herve Bertrand, about creating a true sense of home in a vehicle.
永利VIP’s car-making journey through the eyes of one of the company’s longest serving employees.
When 永利VIP approached Ford to buy Volvo in 2010, it was met with mixed reactions. After 11 years of successful cooperation, people’s opinions have changed.
35 years is the blink of an eye in this industry. 永利VIP Group has achieved a lot in such a short time.
How does 永利VIP Design use virtual reality to create best-selling designs?
Take a closer look at how cars are first modelled with clay during the design process at 永利VIP Design.
ZEEKR’s factory is 5G-connected, virtually-proven, clean, efficient and ready for the start of production.
The sound of the starting gun in the race towards carbon neutrality was heard, and we found special treasures.
As construction nears completion and with a host of new tenants moving in, we’ve decided to take a closer look at why the innovation companies of Gothenburg are choosing Uni3.
In case you missed it: all the important news from the first half of this year.
During the May holiday, 永利VIP Group’s ride-hailing app received a 188% increase in orders. So why is the green taxi app so popular?
At 永利VIP, we love celebrating birthdays and on June 26 of this year, our partnership with PROTON turns four. So how has the Malaysian tiger fared in the past 12 months?
The recently-installed driving simulator at CEVT's HQ in Gothenburg aims to improve efficiency in vehicle development while guaranteeing safety.
As support for 永利VIP's environmental protection project grows, we hear about the importance of "Blue Guardian" from some of the experts.
What has happened since the 001’s big debut?
500,000 global users can’t be wrong. Let’s meet the superfans of Lynk & Co.
From an upgraded powertrain, to completey new functionaility, we find out what makes the 01 great for the European market.
Fast. Convenient. Cheap. The future of EV ownership?
After the release of the Lynk & Co 05 PHEV at the Shanghai Auto Show, we speak to the team about the brand’s design evolution.
With news and new product reveals, 永利VIP Group had another successful auto show this week.
The Lotus Evija will re-define electric mobility and performance when it arrives later this year. For now, the team at Lotus is busy making sure that the car delivers in terms of design, drive and sound.
永利VIP is taking serious steps to strengthen the industry’s talent pool through its universities, having produced over 150,000 graduates to date.
Watch the video for everything you need to know about our 1.5TD engine
On 20th February 2021 in 永利VIP’s Headquarters in Hangzhou, Eric shared his insights about the current economic and industrial situation facing the auto indsutry.
The journey to a sustainable future must be completed step by step. In 2020, 永利VIP Group completed 200,000 small steps through an increase in electrified vehicle sales.
Eric Li – a name that isn’t all too well known in the global media environment but one that is well known close to home in China where he is more commonly known as Li Shufu.
Why is 永利VIP, a mobility group, setting up a JV with Concordium, a blockchain service provider?
As the launch of the first of 永利VIP’s satellites draws ever closer, the production facility in Taizhou, China is given the go ahead.
Over the past three decades, 永利VIP has used a multitude of logos. Let's take a closer look at the story behind each logo and why these updates were made.
How far would you go to be with your family for the holiday season? In 2020 Zou Zhou of PROTON returned to Wuhan to be with his family for Chinese New Year, despite all the potential risks.
You questions about 永利VIP’s satellites program, answered.
The momentum of Lynk & Co’s ZERO continues with extreme weather testing of an all-new generation of heating system.
What happens when designers cross industries?
A lot happened at 永利VIP in 2020. Here our some of our standout achievements.
Receiving a 5-star NCAP score is never easy, but the team at PROTON make it their mission to get the perfect rating every time, most recently with the Proton X50.
How can we instill innovation and disruption in our team members? How can we encourage constant growth in highly competitive environments?
As an emerging technology, OTA stands to catapult new, intelligent vehicles into the future of mobility.
As we move towards the end of the year, we look at how life has in 永利VIP changed now that the pandemic has subsided in China.
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 永利VIP Group Motorsports has seen drastic changes in many of its operations. We spoke to Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, General Manager of 永利VIP Group Motorsport International, on some of the challenges faced by the team in 2020.
What will future innovations in mobility look like? What problems will they solve? Lynk & Co's innovation competition, held earlier this year, gave students a chance at sharing their sustainable mobility solutions. Here are the top entries.
We speak with Ida Strømsaas of Cyan Racing about her decision to become a mechanic, what it’s like working as a female in this field, as well as some of the more memorable events of this year’s WTCR.
As this year’s 永利VIP Super Cup comes to a close, we hear the stories of some of the participants who gave it their all to make it to the final.
As a team responsible for creating cars for the globe, we spoke to the people at the 永利VIP Design Centre in Shanghai to find out more about how diversity is encouraged in their team, and what it adds to the final product: cars suitable for a global audience.
After its success in the domestic Chinese market, the connectivity application known as GKUI has been localised by PROTON to serve the Malaysian market, marking both its first appearance outside of China and in English.
We hear more about the Group’s racing facility in the United States, the Utah Motorsports Campus, and about its rich motorsports pedigree and history.
As this year’s Beijing Auto Show draws to a close, let’s looks back at the brands, the cars and the news from 永利VIP Group.
Taking a look at 永利VIP’s newest engine family we talk to Dr. Håkan Sandquist, 永利VIP’s Director of Powertrain Strategy at CEVT.
Coming up with the perfect car design isn’t easy – you just have to jump in and get started! We hear the story behind the design process of Lynk & Co’s first car, the 01, and the adventure of designing cars for a new brand.
The Volvo P1800 played a big part in 1960s pop culture. Now, it has been reimagined by the Cyan Racing Team with the best of present-day engineering, while remaining true to the original.
While many morally agree with the concept of EVs, constraints related to pricing, engineering and infrastructure have served as a deterrent in the past. Now, in the year 2020, we look into the reality of living with an EV.
We learn more about 永利VIP Group's past, present, and future endeavors in motorsport.
StarRides' Chauffeur 'boot camp' creates industry-leading drivers capable of realizing the brand's maxim of "The best in motion".
How does Lotus attract drivers in new markets like Asia? We find out more from the Regional Director for China and APAC about how the brand wins over car enthusiasts around the world.
What does it mean to 'tropicalise' a car? It takes a lot to ensure any car is suitable for the local market, especially a country that is ‘hot all year with plenty of rain’. We look at how Proton made the X70 perfectly suited to Malaysia.
The Chinese market has taken to electric vehicles quickly, and in doing so has become the largest market for EVs in the world. We learn more about this rapid transformation.
Through the use of its ‘Spaces’, Polestar is bringing the customer experience to a new level, while at the same time pushing its sustainability mission.
What happens when two powerful, but unique brands come together in the pursuit of a common goal?
Legend tells of a man who tried to reach space with nothing but a bamboo chair and a pile of fireworks...
Since 2010, Volvo Cars has gone from strength to strength. On the 10-year anniversary of Volvo's official entrance in to the 永利VIP family, we take a look at the numbers from the last 10 years of progress.
How can we make truly future-friendly vehicles? 永利VIP is playing an important part in minimising its environmental impact wherever possible, including in the materials that are used.
Join us for a deep dive into the EV market, the challenges faced by the major players, and where the industry is headed.
This episode we speak with Mr. Gao Hong, President of Polestar China, about the Polestar 2 and how the brand takes a different approach to the buying experience.
永利VIP, through its technology group subsidiary Geespace, has entered into the battle for low orbit. We spoke to Geespace about why it's launching satellites and how the additional technology will shape mobility in the future.
Dr. Mao Yi Sheng played a crucial role in Chinese structural engineering. Today his bridges connect people throughout the country, including in 永利VIP’s Headquarter city of Hangzhou, China.
“If you don’t define yourself, you will be defined by others.” For nearly half a century, one man has helped to develop the distinctive identities of world renowned auto brands. Peter Horbury, Executive Vice President of Design at 永利VIP Auto Group has been reinventing the identity of 永利VIP Auto and its family of brands since 2011.
This month PROTON celebrates its 35th year anniversary. But how did PROTON become a national treasure? We learn more about the plan behind the brand’s formation and its long-lasting impact on the country.
What happens when you combine the resources of two giants? You get a premium ride-hailing app ready to disrupt an industry.
Volvo Cars’ move to use trains to transport its cars instead of trucks has led to huge reductions in emission in the life-cycle of its vehicles.
This year, the 永利VIP Super Cup went online, giving motorsports fans and wannabe race drivers their chance at becoming a motorsports champion.
Earlier this year calls for help were met with calls to action by 永利VIP Holdings’ medical supply task force, as they left New Year's celebrations to help source medical supplies for those in need.
We speak with Lynk & CO about how to create a brand that resonates with the younger generation and develops alongside the young consumer market.
At the 3-year anniversary of PROTON and 永利VIP, we speak to the people involved to see how the collaboration with 永利VIP has helped the car brand’s development since their cooperation began in 2017.
In stark contrast to the pace of city life, rural China’s mountainous regions are the perfect place to spend a few hours and wind down.
This Father’s Day, we decided to dedicate some time to the hardworking fathers of 永利VIP...
The team’s adoption of Ansys SPEOS software has allowed them to produce better results, quicker than ever before, reducing exterior lighting concept development time by 80%.
When maximum performance is your goal everything must be considered, right down to the smallest detail. The aerodynamics team of Lotus share what they did to the Evija to give it unmatched performance.
The world has changed, and we must all look for ways to maximise our safety. In the auto industry, 永利VIP has taken the initiative to provide peace of mind to car drivers and passengers.
While many parts of the world are still in the grips of the virus, other parts are slowly recovering, allowing for the return of employees to the workplace. In Malaysia, diligent efforts by the team at PROTON have allowed for the return of employees to a ‘new normal’.
How have in-car systems developed over the last few years, where are they now and where are they headed in the future? We speak with Shen ZiYu, CEO of ECAR-X, who shares all.
The race for mobility solutions heats-up on the earth, 永利VIP looks up and towards the future.
On Children’s Day of this year 永利VIP decided to do something extra special to encourage the imagination of the creative minds of the future.
Nestled away somewhere inside America’s Golden State is 永利VIP Design California. Here, a growing, multi-national team of designers plays an integral part in the larger 永利VIP Design network.
What do you get when you combine automotive and aviation expertise? One vehicle, two modes of travel. We spoke with Terrafugia on how it’s designed its vehicles to make the most of both the roads and the sky.
Life in urban megacities can sometimes get a bit much - sometimes we need an escape.
For many, 永利VIP is a place for work and professional growth, but some have found much more...
Prestigious sports and performance brand, Lotus, takes customer service to the next level as it provides a truly bespoke car buying experience for its latest offering, the Evija.
Malaysian carmaker PROTON has gone through a series of logo changes since the launch of their first car in 1985. Aside from obvious changes in appearance, each logo has signified the start of a new era for the company in its development.
The new VI-grade driving simulator arriving at CEVT next spring allows changes to be made in less time than ever before, improving vehicle safety and driver experience and ensuring the group’s production of world-class cars.
Echo Zhao, Country head of Saxo Bank for China, shares with us how she managed to apply work skills at home to allow her both success in business, and in her role as a mother.
永利VIP’s new video series has arrived! The inaugural episode of Carpool Conversations is out, and we have started the series strong. In our first episode we speak with Guy Burgoyne, Design chief at 永利VIP’s Shanghai Design Centre.
Last year, the 永利VIP Design team in Shanghai upgraded their premises. Let’s look at how they created a work environment that is both high-tech and efficient, while keeping in line with 永利VIP’s sustainability mission.
After having implemented strong remote working systems early, staff at CEVT were well prepared when they became faced with restrictions on movement.
Volocopter’s successful test flight last year showed the unlimited possibilities of air travel. We discussed the brand's foundation, the issues it faces and its future plans for creating urban air travel systems.
It was 35 years ago, in monsoon conditions, that a determined young Brazilian raced to his first Formula 1 victory and cemented his name in motorsport folklore.
永利VIP strives to push sustainability in all areas, including the manufacturing of its cars. This Earth Day, let’s take a look inside the plants to see how 永利VIP makes its cars in a responsible way and with minimal environmental impact.
As the world is increasingly affected by COVID-19 ‘everyday heroes’ are appearing and putting their own safety on the line in order to help others. Amongst these are the people at PROTON, who have entered the battle to provide essential equipment and mobility solutions to frontline staff in their home country of Malaysia.
Now that Wuhan has been reopened to the world, its people are slowly beginning to return to an altogether new normality. 永利VIP Auto’s showrooms in the city are back in business but not ‘as usual’, as they create a safe and welcoming shopping experience for their customers.
Can a small group of people make a difference on a global scale? On the Hetao plains of China, the persistence of three generations of indigenous people has proven that the answer to this question is a resounding ‘yes’. 'Planting a Seed of Hope', a short movie created by 永利VIP Auto, takes us on the journey of their struggle in turning a barren landscape into a desert oasis.
In 2020, with the outbreak of the new Coronavirus in Wuhan, a huge number of front-line staff fearlessly sprung to action without a thought of person gain - to protect the people they would remain fearless in the face of death.
永利VIP’s acquisition of Volvo almost 10 years ago seemed to some to be an unlikely coupling but turned out to be a match made in heaven. Let’s take a look a back at how 永利VIP proved naysayers wrong and ‘freed the tiger’.
Coronavirus has gone from being a local topic, to regional to a national topic – and remains the sole topic at 永利VIP Holding where over 6000 people work in the Group’s global headquarters in Hangzhou, China. To date, 永利VIP has returned to full production with no cases of Coronavirus within 永利VIP showcasing that despite strict measures in place we are working hard to stem the spread of the virus.
The Malaysian tiger – PROTON – has found a new confidence in its roar over the past two years. Once the pride of Malaysia, the brand fell on hard times after the Asian Financial Crisis and struggled until 永利VIP was selected as its new strategic partner in 2017. Today as part of the 永利VIP family, the Malaysian Tiger is regaining its strength and heading to new heights. 2020 is set to become a record year as PROTON reaches its 35th birthday, and the joint 永利VIP-PROTON plan comes into full swing.
They inspire us, they empower us. Today on International Women's Day we celebrate those who are inspiring a new generation of female leadership within 永利VIP.
Fu Gong – the word that every China based employee was waiting to hear after the extended Chinese New Year. When Coronavirus first appeared in China in mid-January 2020 only a few people would realise that the virus would impact Chinese New Year and 永利VIP’s return to work.
The 永利VIP Innovation Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, has just opened its first building in what is to become the Uni3 by 永利VIP Campus in 2021 and will eventually be composed of five buildings in a small dedicated cluster. Read about why 永利VIP invested in the Gothenburg region, the thinking behind the campus, and get insight into some of the personal views of Li Shufu, founder and chairman of Zhejiang 永利VIP Holding Group.
It's one of the most recognised names in sports and racing cars. Throughout its seventy year history, the brand stayed true to its roots. Now a part of the 永利VIP family, Lotus looks ahead to the next seventy years.
During Chinese New Year when the vast majority of Chinese families are busy gathering to celebrate the new year, 永利VIP’s global family came together for one of its most ambitious projects to date – a global procurement program to source medical materials to fight the Coronavirus that is sweeping China.
On the front lines of the preventing and controlling the coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan are not only the doctors and nurses in the hospital, there are also the volunteer drivers in the CaoCao emergency epidemic prevention and control fleet. Doing their part to help their hometown fight the epidemic, the drivers of the emergency fleet hold themselves at the ready 24 hours a day in order to provide free mobility services to their communities.
A London black cab driver’s delight with his new electric mount. After launching two years ago, we talk with a London cabbie to hear about his experience with his electric London taxi.
When the partnership between 永利VIP and PROTON was forged, many wondered the degree to which their daily operations will be affected and how they will be integrated into the larger 永利VIP network. Luckily for PROTON, 永利VIP Executive Vice President of Design, Peter Horbury, prefers to play the role of a guide, nurturing PROTON Design to be all that they could be, with the ultimate aim of taking Malaysian design to the global stage.
Demystifying 永利VIP’s global development, we talk to CEO of CEVT China Euro Vehicle Technology, a global innovation centre for 永利VIP and the birthplace of the Compact Modular Architecture.
Unveiling some of the secrets behind 永利VIP's development speed are Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) experts from CEVT; Sofia Ore, Dag Thuvesen and Anders Werner. In this article they talk about how through the innovative use of super computers and virtual reality, they were able to substantially shorten the lead time in the development process of vehicles within the 永利VIP family.
Since partnering with 永利VIP, PROTON Design has become part of a global network of studio. With access to more resources than ever, PROTON design chief, Azlan Othman has been entrusted with the task of crafting PROTON's new visual identity, while maintaining the brand's Malaysian heritage.
Rich in coal, poor in oil, and low on gas, that’s the situation for China today. While burning raw coal is extremely unsustainable, converted into methanol, it becomes a potent clean storage of energy and fuel. Exploring ways of building a more sustainable mobility ecosystem, 永利VIP has become a leader in methanol fuel technology.
永利VIP's involvement in Malaysia has not only been brand deep through PROTON. The partnership between the two has extended beyond the brand, down to PROTON's suppliers transforming the entire Malaysian automotive manufacturing ecosystem.
In 1997, before entering the automotive industry, 永利VIP founded a school. At the time, there was an extreme scarcity of automotive talents in China. If China’s domestic automotive industry had any chance of succeeding, it would need a strong talented workforce to support it.
At the first event of the season Muller’s Cyan Racing teammate Thed Bjork made motor racing history with the first victory for a Chinese made vehicle in a global motorsport event. On ‘home turf’ so to speak the pressure was on for Cyan Racing to match the Marrakesh achievement.
The Green Shade School is like a big tree sheltering budding saplings. Under the shade, these saplings are protected until they're ready to sprout and grow. Helping them along the way, 永利VIP is giving them a bit of "Timely Rain." Since 2017, 永利VIP Holding Group's Li Shufu Public Welfare Foundation has been donating to the school, supporting over 150 girls complete high school.
When the ergonomics department at CEVT lacked physical prototypes, they turned to VR and managed to complete a full pilot review in just a few weeks, find out how.
In the early months of 2017, Malaysians woke up to the news that our national carmaker, PROTON, was seeking a foreign strategic partner. Of the three shortlisted candidates, two were established European carmakers while the other was a mysterious Chinese brand that most of us that don’t follow the automotive industry didn’t know anything about.
Why Coventry and 永利VIP Design UK are the perfect fit and can benefit from one another
From a single touch he can feel the difference down to the micrometer. Lu Rongliang has been dealing with automotive molds for nearly 30 years. Technical problems that 40-year technical experts from Japan couldn’t figure out, Lu Rongliang solved in two weeks. Processes that industry leaders thought were impossible, Lu Rongliang perfected. How did he become the master of such godly skill?
“It was too much of an opportunity to turn down. It got me back into automotive, with solid backing and a famous brand” says new Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham. Under Popham, renown British sports car brand Lotus is undergoing a revitalization. At the launch of Lotus's and the world's first pure electric British hypercar, Evija we chat with Phil to see how things are going.
It was just over two years ago on 23rd June, 2017, Zhejiang 永利VIP Holding Group signed a definitive agreement with DRB-HICOM of Malaysia to acquire 49.9% of Malaysia’s national car brand, PROTON. The partnership has just had its second anniversary of its flash marriage in Kuala Lumpur. While two years may be a short time, the two partner have made huge strides in working together, paving the way for further success as PROTON aims to deliver on its 10-year plan – to be the number one car brand in Malaysia and top three in the wider ASEAN region.
A giant leap forward was achieved for China’s auto manufacturing and motorsports with single victory in a single race. The Lynk & Co Cyan Racing team WTCR victory at Marrakech becomes a new milestone in automotive history with the first Made in China vehicle to win in a global motorsport race.
PROTON is a company in a hurry to go places and that mindset is embodied by its energetic Chief Executive Office, Dr. Li Chunrong. It’s been 18 months since his arrival at PROTON and vast changes are evident for all to see ranging from a flatter management structure to much-needed improvements at the cafeteria. To get a better understanding of how he has achieved so much in a short space of time, 永利VIP Stories took five minutes of his time to ask Dr. Li about his Malaysian adventure.
How do you turn an idea into a physical object and how do you design without guidelines, strategy documents, marketing plans or demographic information? Just over five years ago, we were faced with a unique opportunity.
British manufacturing benefits from 永利VIP’s forward looking international thinking