Zhejiang car maker Geely is in the headlines this week for its acquisition of the loss-making Swedish auto manufacturer Volvo. The deal could turn out to be a win-win situation -- Geely could turn around the Swedish premium brand on the back of rising demand from a strong Chinese market, and Volvo, with its reputation for safety could help lift Geely's brand in global markets.
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• Chinese sex toy market explodes [Sydney Morning Herald] "VIDEO: Chinese sex toy manufacturer, Sweet Secret, trains sales staff ahead of the opening of its first Beijing store."
• More Chinese Astronauts Prefer Volvos [Wired] "Four pioneers in Chinese space exploration have made it their mission to purchase Volvo S80L sedans. That’s one small step for man, one giant sedan for the garage. After returning safely from the Shenzhou 7 space mission, taikonauts Yang Liwei, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng purchased matching luxury cars. According to Volvo Cars China, the quartet decided on the Chinese-exclusive S80L for three reasons: the car is safe, built locally, and the “brand image expresses premiumness and is not ostentatious.”"
• Don't Mess With China's Kids [Forbes] "Given China's habit of punishing individuals who protest against the government, it takes a lot of courage-or rage-for comrades to come forward. What gets Chinese people out in the streets demonstrating every time? Forcing parents to abide by a one-child policy, and then letting someone kill the one child to save a buck."

Chery seemed to be the only car on the lot to have a functioning electric car (the Riich M1) but other car makers who have jumped on the green bandwagon included Peugeot, BMW, Volvo, Mercedes Benz and Hyundai. more ›