CHANGCHUN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's leading automaker FAW Group has launched a project of a test base for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, where the company is headquartered.

File photo: CGTN

With an investment totaling 2.69 billion yuan (about 379.2 million U.S. dollars), it is the first major project carried out since a 15-year plan of building an international city in Changchun was approved by the provincial government in February.

According to FAW, the test base project launched Friday will cover an area of 266,000 sq meters and mainly consist of two testing areas for NEVs and ICVs respectively, and another one for testing passive safety features, power cells, hydrogen fuel, as well as additive and subtractive manufacturing.

After completion, the base will provide FAW with whole-process R&D and test capabilities for passenger cars, which will also promote the development of its iconic Hongqi brand products.

Xu Liuping, chairman of FAW Group, said at the launching ceremony that supported by the new test base, FAW will accelerate the industrialization of NEVs and ICVs and create an ecological innovation circle for rapid and high-quality growth.