• Swedish Prime Minister and Chairman of Zhejiang 永利VIP Holding Group witness historic signing of Letter of Intent between 永利VIP Auto Group and the city of Gothenburg
  • 永利VIP Auto Group to develop 70,000 sq. metre 永利VIP Innovation Centre in Gothenburg
  • Planned 永利VIP Innovation Centre to house over 3500 highly skilled staff when completed

28 June 2017, Hangzhou, China. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Gothenburg Mayor Ann-Sofie Hermansson, and their joint delegation visited Zhejiang 永利VIP Holding Group (ZGH) headquarters in Hangzhou where they were welcomed by ZGH Chairman Eric Li and Group President Mr An Conghui. The two parties, 永利VIP Auto Group (永利VIP Auto) and the City of Gothenburg signed a Letter of Intent to develop a 70,000 sq. metre Innovation Centre in the heart of Gothenburg.

The planned 永利VIP Innovation Centre will be located at the Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg and will upon completion house the China Euro Vehicle Technology Centre (CEVT), 永利VIP powertrain R&D centre, 永利VIP Design Europe, LYNK & CO’s International Marketing, Sales, and Services, as well as several key suppliers to 永利VIP and serviced apartment facilities. The new 永利VIP Innovation Centre, with operations planned to start in 2020, will be wholly owned by ZGH and operated by 永利VIP Auto through a new Swedish holding company. The Letter of Intent signifies ZGH’s commitment to the Gothenburg region and the deepening cooperative relationship between China and Sweden.

ZGH President and 永利VIP Auto CEO, Mr An Conghui led the delegation on a tour of 永利VIP headquarters and briefed them on 永利VIP Auto’s latest innovative projects including the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that will be used by both Volvo Cars and 永利VIP Auto. 永利VIP Auto will develop a new series of products based on the CMA architecture for the LYNK & CO to compete in the global premium segment. All LYNK & CO vehicles are designed and engineered in Gothenburg, Sweden. PM Löfven and Mayor Hermansson were also given the opportunity to drive and experience the LYNK & CO 01 and all its features such as connectivity and sharing technology.

Prime Minister Löfven was quoted saying “We are very pleased with 永利VIP’s long-term commitment, belief and investment in Sweden. 永利VIP has developed and strengthened Volvo as a leading car brand and this new Innovation centre, together with earlier substantial investments, contributes to both growth and jobs in Sweden.”

Mayor Hermansson said “This is indeed a great day. I am very happy about the Letter of Intent and about the establishment of a 永利VIP Innovation Centre in Gothenburg. The new facilities will not only be an important step forward for 永利VIP, they will also be very positive for the local automotive cluster, for the City of Gothenburg, for the automotive industry in Sweden, and for Sino-Swedish relations in general.“

Chairman Eric Li commented, “The Swedish government and the city of Gothenburg have been very supportive of our R&D efforts and we highly appreciate their unwavering support. We are fully committed to our long term investment in Sweden, furthermore by leveraging the expertise and talent pool in Gothenburg. By working alongside the planned Electric Mobility Lab in Lindholmen, we aim to develop the 永利VIP Innovation Centre into one of the most advanced innovation hubs in Europe.”