Hampson flying high following a successful end of season auction at the Concorde Conference Centre

2021 has been Hampson Auctions’ first full year at the rostrum since 1994, yet it has already caused a stir in the crowded world of classic car sales by securing a pair of enviable venues and achieving a number of significant results for cars, motorcycles and automobilia.

It is also notable for charging its vendors a zero entry fee and zero commission.

The company’s final sale for 2021 was held under the wings of the world’s most iconic airliner, courtesy of the Concorde Conference Centre in Manchester, and this matchless venue can now be regarded as Hampson’s spiritual home, where its very next sale (February 22, 2022) will also be held. Another fixture on the auction house’s annual calendar is one of the country’s top classic motor race meetings, the Gold Cup at Oulton Park, which for next year will take place over the weekend of July 29-31.

Now run by Zach Hamilton, Hampson Auctions was formed by his father Mark and uncle Geoffrey Hamilton back in 1987, since when the market for classic cars has clearly changed out of all recognition. Undeterred, and having already created a successful business outside the motoring sphere, Zach was determined to bring Hampson back to life. He said: “My childhood was punctuated by the attendance of car auctions with my dad, so it’s a world I was effectively born into. Resurrecting the family firm has therefore been the realisation of a long-held dream.”

Hampson’s sales are designed to appeal to all classic car enthusiasts, with entries at both ends of the price spectrum, plus a selection of motorcycles and automobilia (and in the case of the recent auction, even a magnificent replica 1920s steam-powered launch). An unintended area of specialism is that for the fast Fords of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Said Zach: “These cars are personal favourites of mine and we already seem to have acquired a reputation for successfully dealing in them.”

Further details of Hampson Auctions and its upcoming sales can be found at www.hampsonauctions.com.

Valkyrie Racing team arrives in Antarctica

Renee Brinkerhoff, Her Team and Her Vintage Porsche Taking on Final Frontier and 356-Mile Mission, Spotlighting Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation on Global Levels

UNION GLACIER, Antarctica — December 6, 2021 – After two long years of anticipation, 65-year-old woman racer and philanthropist Renee Brinkerhoff and her Valkyrie Racing team have finally landed in Union Glacier, Antarctica to begin their 356-mile ice trek as a finale to their near-20,000-mile journey which can now boast a 7-continent endurance effort to help stop human trafficking.

For those who have yet to follow the adventure story of one woman, one car and one mission – the ‘why’ for her ‘Project 356 Worldwide Rally’ has become a universal visual for her voice to spread awareness and raise funds to aid less fortunate women and child victims who have been trafficked worldwide – AND, to help end the travesty of the world’s second largest illegal business — an unlawful $150 billion business of human trafficking. But it goes much deeper than just a vision, for Brinkerhoff it’s become a humanitarian effort.

Brinkerhoff began racing nearly a decade ago, utilizing famed endurance rallies including Peking-to-Paris, La Carrera Panamericana and the East African Safari Rally to gain credibility – all globally recognized events where she became more than an anomaly by winning podium finishes and taking her vintage car on every terrain possible to showcase her extreme effort for the cause. She has become an inspiration to raise much needed dollars and to provide resources to fight child trafficking around the globe.

Within her charitable organization, Valkyrie Gives, Brinkerhoff has created a national 501(c)3 foundation that is committed to providing 100 percent of dollars contributed to pre-vetted shelters and NGOs within remote areas including Mongolia, Peru, Thailand, India, and Kenya. All include approved projects that will positively impact the lives of children at risk. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2017, they have raised nearly $500,000 and though they speak of a $1mm mission, their goal is to far exceed those numbers. www.valkyrieracing.com/donate

“You can’t put a price on the life of one child,” said Brinkerhoff. “These are the world’s children and as we look deep inside ourselves, we know they too are our children. Child trafficking is a pandemic of its own with another name, and the more education we can provide and the more support we can offer, we can help to end something that should have never begun.”

In addition to racing, Brinkerhoff has placed herself on the threshold of direct involvement to call-out child traffickers. At first, after she and her daughter Christina, who is also the Operations Manager for Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives, visited with shelters in third-world countries and contributed by providing education, supplies and other support – but in 2019, Renee was selected by a U.S. NGO to be part of a carefully vetted and select group of volunteer operatives to work on anti-trafficking efforts to rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking including children. According to Renee, these evidence gathering efforts help to build strong cases for local law enforcement around the globe, while placing one in the throes of a very dark and ugly world not many get or want to see.

After two missions in as many years, Renee performed undercover operations alongside law enforcement in both Southeast Asia and South America. And since then, Christina too has been vetted and approved to take on similar roles.

The mother/daughter duo are together once more on the Antarctica expedition, where Christina’s role will be within the support vehicle, along with their videographer Neil Carey and service/technical support leader Simon Redhead, who has been on each Valkyrie Racing endeavor since the team began their worldwide endurance racing venture. Christina, who helps steer the Foundation and is a graduate of the University of Southern California famed film school and a former talent agent, plays a myriad of roles including the team’s photographer and historian, is creating a documentary of the world-record seven continent initiative.

Alongside Renee, in the passenger seat, is her navigator and famed polar explorer Jason de Carteret, a world-record holder in Polar Exploration with more than 50 expeditions under his belt.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE:

All of Valkyrie Racing’s efforts, including administrative costs for both Valkyrie Racing and Valkyrie Gives are paid separately than through funding for Valkyrie Gives, where 100 percent of dollars raised provide critical support and funding to combat child trafficking around the globe.

In addition to direct donations for the cause www.valkyrieracing.com/donate , fundraising platform Omaze has created a sweepstakes opportunity to further the awareness of Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives by offering a chance to win a vintage Porsche 356A car restored by UK-based Tuthill Porsche. The $200K+ valued prize is stylized to celebrate Valkyrie Racing’s seven continent endeavor and is a tribute to Renee Brinkerhoff’s first race car. Proceeds will benefit non-profit Valkyrie Gives and the contest will be open through March 4, 2022, with a winner announcement approximately March 23, 2022. Donations support Valkyrie Gives! ENTER: omaze.com/WinThisPorsche

PXG – LEAD SPONSOR AND SUPPORTER

PXG, the global golf research and development powerhouse founded by American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons, has taken a lead sponsor role for Valkyrie Racing, as well as become a strong contributor to Valkyrie Gives — underscoring the company’s commitment to taking extreme measures in the name of performance, and more importantly, providing hope.

ABOUT VALKYRIE RACING

Learn more about the exciting story of Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives and follow Renee Brinkerhoff and her team’s progress on the website at www.valkyrieracing.com , through Instagram @valkyrie_racing or @valkyrieracing on Facebook. Lead sponsor for Valkyrie Racing’s Antarctica Ice Challenge will be PXG, the global golf research and development powerhouse founded by American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons – underscoring the company’s commitment to taking extreme measures in the name of performance and, more importantly, providing hope.

ABOUT VALKYRIE GIVES

Valkyrie Gives is a non-profit 501 (c)3 formed to aid women and children at risk – with a special focus of ending the human tragedy of child trafficking. Valkyrie Gives provides their donors with the confidence that 100% of their gift is going directly to a vetted and proven project that will positively impact the lives of children at risk.

All administrative and other expenses associated with Valkyrie Gives are funded entirely by Valkyrie Racing.

ABOUT PXG

Founded by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed golf nut Bob Parsons, PXG embodies his belief that every new product – from golf clubs to apparel – should be noticeably better. Every innovation should improve your performance. And every moment of impact should elevate your enjoyment.

PXG offers a complete lineup of right- and left-handed golf clubs, including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters, as well as high-performance, sport fashion apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit www.PXG.com.

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Polestar provides next glimpse of Polestar 3 and reaffirms growth plans

  • Launching in 2022, Polestar 3 will redefine SUVs for the electric age and will be made in US
  • Polestar is on track for approx. 29,000 global sales in 2021
  • Polestar Precept debuts on US soil in New York City; embarks on national tour

Polestar, the pure play, premium electric car company, has released a second teaser image of the forthcoming Polestar 3 electric performance SUV, which is set to launch in 2022.

Polestar 3 is the company’s first SUV and will be its first vehicle to be built in the US, with production set to take place in Charleston, South Carolina. 

This news follows the September announcement of Polestar’s intention to list on Nasdaq in connection with its proposed business combination with Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW, and GGPIU), which is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

“We will build in America for Americans,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “Polestar 3 is planned to be launched in 2022 as a premium electric performance SUV that will define the look of SUVs in the electric age. It will also be the first Polestar vehicle to be built in America.”

Thomas Ingenlath hosted investors and press at a series of events in New York to discuss the company’s vision, brand and growth plans. The audience learned that Polestar 3 is intended to be one of the most climate-responsible cars ever made and will in time offer autonomous highway piloting powered by the best-in-class LiDAR sensor from Luminar and centralized NVIDIA computing power.

The premium SUV market is the fastest growing segment in the US automotive industry and is expected to be one of the most rapid to adopt fully electric vehicles.

Polestar Precept, the company’s manifesto concept car that previews the future of its design, technology and sustainability, also made its US debut in New York City. Precept now embarks on a national tour, visiting Polestar retail locations throughout the US into the new year.

Thomas Ingenlath told audiences he believes there is a fundamental difference between Polestar and many other electric car companies. “We are not a virtual company waiting to build factories and sell cars; we are an actual company already building and selling cars around the world. Our two award-winning cars are on the road in 14 markets globally and we expect our global sales volume to reach around 29,000 vehicles this year.”

Thomas Ingenlath also underlined the company’s established manufacturing and sales capability, expressing that Polestar is planning to launch a new car every year for the next three years, starting with Polestar 3, and plans to increase its presence to at least 30 global markets by the end of 2023. 

Expanding presence in these new markets, the arrival of three new cars, and further advances in its existing markets, mean that Polestar plans to grow ten-fold from global sales of around 29,000 in 2021 to 290,000 by 2025. “From here on in, Polestar is all about growth,” concludes Thomas Ingenlath.

Polestar 3 will be built at the Volvo Cars plant in Charleston, South Carolina. Volvo Cars is a large shareholder in Polestar, allowing Polestar to benefit from the Swedish company’s world leading safety technologies, but also generate cost efficiencies through financial and industrial synergies.

Ends.

About Polestar

Polestar was established as a new, standalone Swedish premium electric vehicle manufacturer in 2017. Founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding, Polestar enjoys specific technological and engineering synergies with Volvo Cars and benefits from significant economies of scale as a result.

Polestar is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and its vehicles are currently available and on the road in markets across Europe, North America, China and Asia Pacific. By 2023, the company plans to be present in 30 global markets. Polestar cars are currently manufactured in two facilities in China, with additional future manufacturing planned in the USA.

In September 2021, Polestar announced its intention to list as a public company on the Nasdaq in a business combination agreement with Gores Guggenheim, Inc. Full information on this definitive agreement can be found here.

Polestar has produced two electric performance cars. The Polestar 1 was built between 2019 and 2021 as a low-volume electric performance hybrid GT with a carbon fibre body, 609 hp, 1,000 Nm and an electric-only range of 124 km (WLTP) – the longest of any hybrid car in the world.

The Polestar 2 electric performance fastback is the company’s first fully electric, high volume car. The Polestar 2 model range includes three variants with a combination of long- and standard range batteries as large as 78 kWh, and dual- and single-motor powertrains with as much as 300 kW / 408 hp and 660 Nm.

In the coming three years, Polestar plans to launch one new electric vehicle per year, starting with Polestar 3 in 2022 – the company’s first electric performance SUV. Polestar 4 is expected to follow in 2023, a smaller electric performance SUV coupe.

In 2024, the Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT is planned to be launched as the production evolution of Polestar Precept – the manifesto concept car that Polestar released in 2020 that showcases the brand’s future vision in terms of design, technology, and sustainability. As the company seeks to reduce its climate impact with every new model, Polestar aims to produce a truly climate-neutral car by 2030.

About Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW, and GGPIU) is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of The Gores Group, LLC, founded by Alec Gores, and by an affiliate of Guggenheim Capital, LLC. Gores Guggenheim completed its initial public offering in April 2021, raising approximately USD 800 million in cash proceeds for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Gores Guggenheim’s strategy is to identify and complete business combinations with market leading companies with strong equity stories that will benefit from the growth capital of the public equity markets and be enhanced by the experience and expertise of Gores’ and Guggenheim’s long history and track record of investing in and operating businesses.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release (“Press Release”) may be considered “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the future financial or operating performance of Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (“Gores Guggenheim”), Polestar Performance AB and/or its affiliates (the “Company”) and Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited (“ListCo”). For example, projections of future revenue, volumes and other metrics are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential”, “forecast”, “plan”, “seek”, “future”, “propose” or “continue”, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Gores Guggenheim and its management, and the Company and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of definitive agreements with respect to the proposed business combination between Gores Guggenheim, the Company, ListCo and the other parties thereto (the “the Business Combination”); (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Gores Guggenheim, the combined company or others following the announcement of the Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (3) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Gores Guggenheim, to obtain financing to complete the Business Combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing; (4) changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; (5) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the Business Combination; (6) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of the Company as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (7) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (8) costs related to the Business Combination; (9) risks associated with changes in applicable laws or regulations and the Company’s international operations; (10) the possibility that the Company or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (11) the Company’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (12) the Company’s ability to maintain agreements or partnerships with its strategic partners Volvo Cars and Geely and to develop new agreements or partnerships; (13) the Company’s ability to maintain relationships with its existing suppliers and strategic partners, and source new suppliers for its critical components, and to complete building out its supply chain, while effectively managing the risks due to such relationships; (14) the Company’s reliance on its partnerships with vehicle charging networks to provide charging solutions for its vehicles and its strategic partners for servicing its vehicles and their integrated software; (15) the Company’s ability to establish its brand and capture additional market share, and the risks associated with negative press or reputational harm, including from lithium-ion battery cells catching fire or venting smoke; (16) delays in the design, manufacture, launch and financing of the Company’s vehicles and the Company’s reliance on a limited number of vehicle models to generate revenues; (17) the Company’s ability to continuously and rapidly innovate, develop and market new products; (18) risks related to future market adoption of the Company’s offerings; (19) increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for lithium-ion cells or semiconductors; (20) the Company’s reliance on its partners to manufacture vehicles at a high volume, some of which have limited experience in producing electric vehicles, and on the allocation of sufficient production capacity to the Company by its partners in order for the Company to be able to increase its vehicle production capacities; (21) risks related to the Company’s distribution model; (22) the effects of competition and the high barriers to entry in the automotive industry, and the pace and depth of electric vehicle adoption generally on the Company’s future business; (23) changes in regulatory requirements, governmental incentives and fuel and energy prices; (24) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Gores Guggenheim, the Company, the Company’s post business combination’s projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics, or on any of the foregoing risks; and (25) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Gores Guggenheim’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering (File No. 333-253338) declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 22, 2021, and other documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC by Gores Guggenheim or ListCo, including the Registration/Proxy Statement (as defined below). There may be additional risks that neither Gores Guggenheim, the Company nor ListCo presently know or that Gores Guggenheim, the Company or ListCo currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

Nothing in this Press Release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Gores Guggenheim, the Company nor ListCo undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional Information
In connection with the proposed Business Combination, (i) ListCo has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement of Gores Guggenheim and a preliminary prospectus (the “Registration/Proxy Statement”), and (ii) Gores Guggenheim will file a definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed Business Combination (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) and will mail the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to its stockholders after the Registration/Proxy Statement is declared effective. The Registration/Proxy Statement contains and the Definitive Proxy Statement will contain important information about the proposed Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at a meeting of Gores Guggenheim stockholders to be held to approve the proposed Business Combination. This Press Release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Business Combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Business Combination. Before making any voting or other investment decisions, securityholders of Gores Guggenheim and other interested persons are advised to read, the Registration/Proxy Statement and the amendments thereto and the Definitive Proxy Statement and other documents filed in connection with the proposed Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about Gores Guggenheim, the Company, ListCo and the Business Combination. When available, the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant materials for the proposed Business Combination will be mailed to stockholders of Gores Guggenheim as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration/Proxy Statement, the Definitive Proxy Statement and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Gores Guggenheim, Inc., 6260 Lookout Rd., Boulder, CO 80301, attention: Jennifer Kwon Chou.

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Participants in the Solicitation
Gores Guggenheim and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Gores Guggenheim’s stockholders with respect to the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Gores Guggenheim is set forth in Gores Guggenheim’s filings with the SEC (including Gores Guggenheim’s final prospectus related to its initial public offering (File No. 333-253338) declared effective by the SEC on March 22, 2021), and are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Gores Guggenheim, Inc., 6260 Lookout Rd., Boulder, CO 80301, attention: Jennifer Kwon Chou. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants is contained in the Registration/Proxy Statement and will be contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

The Company and ListCo, and certain of their directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Gores Guggenheim in connection with the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed Business Combination is included in the Registration/Proxy Statement and will be included in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

No Offer and Non-Solicitation
This Press Release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Gores Guggenheim, the Company or ListCo, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ZEEKR gets off to an electrifying start delivering over 2000 cars in first month of production

ZEEKR, the premium electric mobility brand from Geely Holding Group, has announced delivery of over 2000 vehicles to customers in its first full month of production.

Just six months after Zeekr revealed its all-electric 001 model – a luxury shooting brake coupe – at the Shanghai Auto Show and one month since production started, it has now delivered 2,012 examples to customers in more than 150 cities across China.

Capacity at the Zeekr Intelligent Factory, one of the world’s most advanced vehicle facilities, is now ramping up to accommodate the unprecedented demand for the 001. Zeekr will continue to prioritize local market customers ahead of its planned global roll-out from 2023.

The Quote /From our boss

Andy An, CEO of Zeekr, said: “We revealed Zeekr to the world in April this year and in just eight months, we have developed the 001, started production at our state-of-the-art Intelligent Factory in Ningbo and delivered over 2000 of our luxury shooting brake coupes. This was an extremely ambitious challenge for Zeekr and I am truly proud of this startup’s progress in such record time.”

Zeekr’s 001 luxury shooting brake coupe is one of the most anticipated all-electric vehicles and the brand’s flagship product for the market. Based on Geely Holding Group’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), the vehicle is able to create 400kw of power with max torque of 768 Nm through a twin motor system capable of spiriting the 001 from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds and braking from 100-0 kph in just 34.5 meters. 

The 100kWh Z-Battery is able to charge from 10% to 80% within 30 minutes and has a 712km range, according to the NEDC cycle used in China.

The average order price with options for the 001, for the Chinese market only, was confirmed at RMB335,000 (USD 53,000) with the vast majority of orders to date being for the mid to high range models.

Zeekr customers will be able to experience a Zeekr charging station at selected locations that cover nine major cities in China. Zeekr has also included third party charging points in 211 cities to provide a hassle-free and seamless charging experience for all Zeekr users.

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