manxmedia Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=87284 1st April Story??? (Waiting for Manx Radio News to pick this up) Chinese vehicle maker Reely Motor has announced plans to build a car manufacturing plant on the Isle of Man (IoM), a windswept island situated in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland. The IoM is effectively part of the UK but renowned as a financial hub and tax haven due to its unique status as a British dependency that has given it the power to set its own tax rules. But the small island has very little manufacturing history and Reely’s announcement has shocked automotive industry analysts who believed that Reely was scouting potential plant locations in Central and Eastern Europe. A site near Bucharest, Romania, was thought to have emerged as the front-runner in recent weeks. Chengdu-based Reely is planning a range of small- and mid-sized cars for the European market and says that it will build at least two models at the IoM plant, which the company says will start production before the end of 2008. The plant will be located on the outskirts of the IoM’s capital city, Douglas, in a ‘special development zone’ that is described as ‘outside EU business jurisdiction, but within the EU Customs Union’. A five million hectare bonded warehouse is also planned. Output levels at the plant will be ramped up according to market demand but the plant will have the capacity to build 150,000 units per annum, according to Reely. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for September to coincide with Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to Britain. British Prime Minister Tony Blair will also attend the ceremony along with the island’s current Lieutenant Governor, Air Marshall Ian MacFadyen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 The only Chinese manufacturer on Google that I could find was one making zips and underwear, a bit of horizontal diversification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Ayres Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 A five million hectare bonded warehouse is also planned. So that would be Eire then?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinloYessir Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 It also says: Reely surprising? Before you search for more info on the little known but audacious sounding Reely Motor of Chengdu, do just check the date at the bottom of this article. We have a tradition here called April Fool's Day. Mind you, an unknown emerging out of China isn't exactly out of the question is it? Incidentally, some of the details in the article about the Isle of Man are true (and those three legs in the image do in fact make up the delightfully quirky Manx flag). Lovely place to visit or to race a motorcycle, or watch people racing motorcycles (if they don't kill themselves). Not terribly practical for car manufacturing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Not terribly practical for car manufacturing though. You better tell the Steam Packet - they've already opened the champaign and ordered 5 more boats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 5 million hectares is about 20,000 square miles, so the bonded warehouse would need to be about 10,000 miles high with each floor having a 2 square mile area. They've obviously gone for the same team that worked on the new hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcCann Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 This is great news. High paid jobs for all. I've just rang my boss and told him to stick his crappy job up his ar.... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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