Steel structure finished on auto pavilion at Expo
Date:26/08/2009

A construction worker receives a screw from officials.

A construction worker receives a screw from officials.

The steel structure is finished on the joint pavilion of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and General Motors.

The steel structure is finished on the joint pavilion of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and General Motors.

Xu Weiguo, deputy Party chief of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, delivers a speech.

Xu Weiguo, deputy Party chief of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, delivers a speech.

 Xiao Guopu, vice president of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, delivers a speech.

Xiao Guopu, vice president of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, delivers a speech.

 Kevin Wale, GM China Group president and managing director.

Kevin Wale, GM China Group president and managing director.

an artist's rendition of SAIC-GM Pavilion

an artist's rendition of SAIC-GM Pavilion

an artist's rendition of SAIC-GM Pavilion

an artist's rendition of SAIC-GM Pavilion

The steel structure was finished today on the joint pavilion of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and General Motors, the sole entry of automakers at Shanghai World Expo.

More than 1,800 tons of steel has formed a 6,000-square-meter, cylinder-shaped structure at the Puxi Shanghai Expo site along the Huangpu River.

The pavilion will showcase the two automakers' advanced automotive technology as well as their vision for urban transportation in the year 2030, which will be without emissions, accidents and congestion.

A total of 29 academics from around the world have been invited to look into future transportation issues in for living, the results of which will displayed in the pavilion, said Jin Qi, director of the pavilion.

Some Chinese children also have been invited to draw pictures of their ideas for future transport.

The pavilion will have an external spiral design in metallic silver color. Its design and smooth, fluid lines were inspired by vehicle design, said Kevin Wale, GM China Group president and managing director.

The pavilion exterior will be cloaked in 4,000 recycled aluminum panels of slightly different sizes, tilt angles and surface cambers to give its outer shell a smooth and seamless appearance.

Applications such as modeling, metallic painting and emendation, which are similar to the technologies applied in vehicle body panel processing, are being used to form the pavilion panels.

A future concept vehicle will be exhibited which will be unpiloted and able to communicate with others in order to avoid accidents. Cars will also "talk" with roads to choose the best route.

A four-dimensional movie - the chairs will move according to the film's plot - will be another highlight. The theater will be quite unique allowing 400 to 500 people to watch the 12-minute movie together.

Editor: Echo Hu