Swede Runs China's Icy Car Test Lab, Alone for 20 Years

In a remote, freezing city in Inner Mongolia, a Swedish man has spent over two decades testing vehicles in the cold. He is likely the only foreigner there. Gustav Holmgren, 44, is the legal representative and site manager of the ATM Proving Ground in Yakeshi. His Chinese name is Ge Siwen. The facility provides cold-weather testing for carmakers. Holmgren's career has mirrored the rapid growth of China's automobile industry. He operates in Yakeshi, a small city near Hulun Buir. The area is known for its severe winter climate, which is ideal for testing vehicle performance in extreme cold.