Investor Watch: October 30, 2023

MILITARY & DEFENSE

Learn about the five communities to receive this honor from USAA and the Association of Defense Communities.

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EV maker ZEEKR, owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, one of the biggest automakers in China, early this year premiered at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a robotaxi developed with Waymo and created at ZEEKR’s R&D center in Gothenburg, Sweden. “Geely’s link to Europe starts with acquiring Volvo in 2010,” a release from pingwest noted. “The car-making giant also runs several vehicle brands including Lynk & CO, Polestar, and the London Electric Vehicle Company.”

Photo courtesy of pingwest

Rhodium Group has released new analysis of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) sector in Europe through the prism of the European Commission’s new anti-subsidy investigation into imports of BEVs made in China. “While BEVs occupy the spotlight at the moment, the EU is also reportedly considering trade defense measures against Chinese wind turbines and steel,” Rhodium Group states, noting the EU’s goal of avoiding what Chinese-subsidized solar products did to the EU’s solar industry a decade ago. “Many more industries are recipients of China’s industrial policy largesse, and could become targets for EU policymakers in the years ahead.” The report follows a May update from the group on overall Chinese FDI in Europe.

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From the “Nothing New Under the Sun” department we present this ad from Virginia Electric and Power Company (now Dominion Energy) that appeared in the October 1963 issue of Site Selection predecessor Industrial Development and Manufacturers Record. The ad was promoting Hampton Roads’ proximity to the European Common Market, created a mere five years earlier. The ad also drew attention to the Gyrocopter made by Bensen Aircraft, founded by Russian émigré Igor Bensen way before VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) became today’s latest aerospace acronym. The Centennial of Flight Commission says the Gyrocopter was first flown in 1955 and production continued until 1987. “The autogyro was a powered version of the Gyro-Glider and could fit in anyone’s garage,” says the Commission. “The Model B-8M could also be converted from an aircraft to an automobile by simply locking its blades in place.” Hampton Roads continues to attract aerospace innovation in multiple arenas, including UAVs.—Adam Bruns

Photo courtesy of Netherworld

Lead Designer Richard Nenoff, a lifelong horror fan, represented Site Selection at a recent media event hosted by Netherworld, the legendary haunted house located in Stone Mountain, Georgia, in the Atlanta metro area. Here’s his review:

“For many a fan of the spooky season, it wouldn’t be Halloween without a visit to a haunt. For those lucky enough to be in Georgia there’s no better haunt than Netherworld Haunted House. Now celebrating its 27th season of screams, Netherworld offers not one, but two haunts in the same building. Primordial, the larger of the two, features a prehistoric, Ice Age room, complete with yetis and other monsters of legend. The smaller Cryptid Chaos chooses to focus more on modern mythological creatures, such as Mothman and Slenderman, and sets itself up as a secret government research facility in which said monsters have escaped and are causing, well, chaos. Returning fans will be pleasantly surprised to find that by creating a more winding path than previous years, Primordial offers more jumps and scares and takes more time to traverse, offering a good 45 minutes or so of spooky goodness.

“Haunts are awesome, but Netherworld has more on offer for those looking to make a night of it.

• A laser tag course where your team runs through a facility and guns down monsters and animatronics that pop out along your path
• A midway with all the food and photo ops your dark little heart could ask for
• A modest museum featuring movie props and costumes from previous years
• A selection of arguably the best escape rooms in the country. Offered year-round, Escape the Netherworld has recently opened a fifth, alien-abduction themed room to get lost in.”

Photo by Richard Nenoff