The Sichuan Earthquake Appeal:
AROnline’s Chinese contacts in fund-raising initiative
A tour of Longbridge could be yours...
Two of AROnline’s contacts in China, Paul Stowe, Project
Director at Shanghai LTI (a Joint Venture between London taxi maker LTI and
Chinese OEM Geely), and Ash Sutcliffe, the man behind the highly-regarded China
Car Times website, are at the forefront of a campaign to raise money for the
relief effort supporting victims of the Sichuan earthquake in China which killed
50,000 but left millions more vulnerable.
Ash and Paul have obtained the support of a number of leading
Automotive Industry players in both Britain and China for their initiative which
centres on a charity auction and began on eBay at 9.30 GMT today.
“The Chinese car companies and Joint Ventures have already
been extremely generous to the cause – but, by pooling our resources,
we have managed to squeeze a little bit more out of them and are offering the
chance to bid for some truly ‘once in a lifetime opportunities’
which will enable them to give even more than they already have to the Sichuan
Earthquake Appeal”, says Paul Stowe.
Participants are being invited to bid for the following priceless
prizes:-
· Two exclusive 1:18 scale models of Lifan cars
(Lifan is a fast emerging car maker with its roots in one of the world’s
largest motorcycle makers) – the models cannot be bought and have fully
functioning features, including opening doors and working suspension.
· A month’s free advertising on China Car
Times (the space normally costs $1000) from July to August. CCT receives over
1.6 million page views a week from all over the world and is the premier English-language
web site monitoring the growing Chinese automotive manufacturing sector.
· An exclusive visit to the LTI plant in Coventry
UK, home of the iconic London taxi. The offer includes a private tour of the
factory, lunch, a drive in one of the latest Iconic Black Cabs and some special
merchandise.
· Courtesy of NAC MG, a once in a lifetime opportunity
to visit Longbridge, Birmingham, as it re-launches the MG brand into Europe,
along with the heavily revamped MG TF sports car. Included in this offer is
a drive in one of the first MG TF LE500 vehicles to be built at the newly re-opened
MG factory.
· A visit to the Lotus sports car plant in Hethel,
Norfolk, UK, with a rare chance to try a range of the latest products from the
world-renowned brand on the company’s own test track.
“Thanks to the generosity of three great British car companies
– Lotus, MG and LTI – we are offering prizes that money cannot buy”,
says Paul Stowe. “This shows that not only is British motoring alive and
well in the UK, but also that the industry recognizes that its social responsibility
is global – all the companies are intrinsically linked in China having
either wholly owned or Joint Venture companies established there.
“All the companies employ Chinese people and have been deeply
moved by the events in Sichuan, and each has individually contributed to the
Charity causes supporting the people and the families affected”, said
Paul Stowe.
The Chinese charity auction concludes at 09.30 am GMT on 24th June,
2008.
Further details about the individual work done by the Chinese
automotive industry are on
China Car Times, and at Paul Stowe’s own website.
The relevant eBay links for the auction are:
Lifan
Model
China
Car Times Advertising
London
Taxi factory tour
Longbridge
tour
Lotus
factory tour