SAIC & GM China Set Their Sights on 2030,Break Ground for Expo 2010 Pavilion
April 17, 2009 – Executives from the Shanghai Expo Bureau, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (SAIC) and General Motors joined together today for the breaking of ground for the SAIC-GM Pavilion for World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
SAIC and GM are the official automobile partner of the global exposition, which opens on May 1, 2010. Their pavilion in the Puxi section of the Expo 2010 site will showcase their advanced automobile technology as well as their vision for urban transportation in 2030. It will be a future that offers people worldwide a safer, better, more comfortable and more convenient traveling experience.
Located at plot number E05-03, the 6,000-square-meter pavilion is being financed by SAIC and GM. The external design of the curved building will give visitors a dynamic visual experience of a wonderful future, when cars will be safer, more environmentally friendly, more intelligent, and more human-oriented; when transportation will be smoother and less polluting; and when people, automobiles and traffic will coexist harmoniously.
"The SAIC-GM Pavilion will allow visitors a glimpse at a future that is petroleum and emission-free, a future that is congestion and accident-free, and a future in which driving is more fun and exciting than ever before. GM is determined to provide the solutions to help make that future a reality,” said GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale at today’s ceremony. “We regard Expo 2010 as a unique opportunity to show the world GM’s vision of the future and to demonstrate our leadership in technology and innovation. Today’s groundbreaking is another milestone of our participation at World Expo 2010 Shanghai, and an example of our commitment to the exposition together with our partner SAIC.”
Hu Maoyuan, President of SAIC, expressed his gratitude for the Shanghai Expo Bureau’s support of the preparatory work on the pavilion construction project. He said the pavilion will display SAIC and GM’s industry-leading technology and innovations. Moreover, he said, it will demonstrate their ambition to create a positive future that delivers on their commitment as responsible corporate citizens.
"I hope this pavilion will inspire all visitors to think about the living conditions in 2030 and inspire them to do their part to make this future a reality,” he said. “We appreciate the support that we have received for our pavilion and are confident the results will be pleasing to everyone.”
Hong Hao, Director of the bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, expressed his organization’s gratitude for the joint effort of SAIC and GM. He said, “SAIC and GM have done a great job coming up with an exciting theme and moving forward on their pavilion design and development over the past two years. We will fully back the construction of their pavilion through completion.
"Creating a harmonious environment, which is reflected in the pavilion, is an important part of corporate social responsibility. SAIC and GM have strongly supported the Shanghai Expo Bureau, while helping us achieve our goals. We look forward to a very successful future for the SAIC-GM Joint Pavilion and World Expo 2010 Shanghai.”
