Swedish job boost after Chinese green car order
A billion dollar deal for Chinese-owned carmaker Nevs, formerly Saab, to build 250,000 electric cars at its Trollhättan factory is set to create hundreds of jobs in west Sweden.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs) announced on Thursday that Chinese energy vehicle leasing company Panda New Energy had placed the $12 billion order (102 billion kronor).
It is the second order this autumn for the company, which has experienced major financial woes since being established in June 2012 to take over Saab's assets after bankruptcy.
"This is a strategic collaboration for Nevs not only in terms of the numbers of vehicles, but it is also an important step to implement our vision and new business plan," Nevs vice chairman Stefan Tilk said in a statement.
In October, Nevs announced a partnership with Turkey to develop a "Turkish national vehicle".
Nevs spokesman Mikael Östlund told Swedish news agency TT that the Chinese order would create jobs for "hundreds of people" at the factory in Trollhättan, where parts of the cars are set to be constructed.
"We are going to deliver painted car bodies which will then be assembled in the factory in China, which is being built now. I dare not say exactly how many people we will need to hire, but it's around hundreds of people," said Östlund.
The news was welcomed by councillors and trade union officials on Thursday.
"This is of course extremely pleasing news for Trollhättan and the people in Trollhättan," councillor Paul Åkerlund told TT.
"It's great that we can create renewed optimism for Trollhättan and the car industry. I think it shows that Swedish industry is able to compete," said Anders Ferbe, chairman of trade union IF Metall.
READ ALSO: Sweden's silent buses making loud noise
Nevs will provide Panda with 150,000 9-3 sedan electric vehicles by the end of 2020, based on Saab's 9-3 sedan platform. The deal also includes 100,000 other electric vehicle products and services "from companies associated to Nevs and its owners," it said.
Panda cooperates with chauffeured car service platforms in China, and aims to become one of the biggest electric vehicle leasing companies in the world.
Nevs is owned by China's National Modern Energy Holdings, Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Area (THT) and the Beijing State Research Information Technology Co Ltd (SRIT).
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National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs) announced on Thursday that Chinese energy vehicle leasing company Panda New Energy had placed the $12 billion order (102 billion kronor).
It is the second order this autumn for the company, which has experienced major financial woes since being established in June 2012 to take over Saab's assets after bankruptcy.
"This is a strategic collaboration for Nevs not only in terms of the numbers of vehicles, but it is also an important step to implement our vision and new business plan," Nevs vice chairman Stefan Tilk said in a statement.
In October, Nevs announced a partnership with Turkey to develop a "Turkish national vehicle".
Nevs spokesman Mikael Östlund told Swedish news agency TT that the Chinese order would create jobs for "hundreds of people" at the factory in Trollhättan, where parts of the cars are set to be constructed.
"We are going to deliver painted car bodies which will then be assembled in the factory in China, which is being built now. I dare not say exactly how many people we will need to hire, but it's around hundreds of people," said Östlund.
The news was welcomed by councillors and trade union officials on Thursday.
"This is of course extremely pleasing news for Trollhättan and the people in Trollhättan," councillor Paul Åkerlund told TT.
"It's great that we can create renewed optimism for Trollhättan and the car industry. I think it shows that Swedish industry is able to compete," said Anders Ferbe, chairman of trade union IF Metall.
READ ALSO: Sweden's silent buses making loud noise
Nevs will provide Panda with 150,000 9-3 sedan electric vehicles by the end of 2020, based on Saab's 9-3 sedan platform. The deal also includes 100,000 other electric vehicle products and services "from companies associated to Nevs and its owners," it said.
Panda cooperates with chauffeured car service platforms in China, and aims to become one of the biggest electric vehicle leasing companies in the world.
Nevs is owned by China's National Modern Energy Holdings, Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Area (THT) and the Beijing State Research Information Technology Co Ltd (SRIT).
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