File photo: CGTN

CHANGCHUN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd. announced that construction work on its new technology development center has started in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province and home to FAW-Volkswagen headquarters.

The project, with an investment of nearly 1 billion yuan (about 140.8 million U.S. dollars) and a floor area of 70,116.9 square meters, is scheduled to be put into use in December 2022.

Upon completion, it will improve the car maker's R&D capability in safety tests, performance and durability tests, intelligent lighting development and drive system development and boost its R&D and testing capability of new energy vehicles.

Liu Yigong, board member and president of FAW-Volkswagen, said the center, another major project after its car testing field in Changchun, will provide significant support for the company's full value chain localization strategy.

The project will promote the upgrading of the automobile industry in Changchun and even the whole northeastern old industrial base with its advanced technical specifications and testing conditions, said Liu.

FAW-Volkswagen is a passenger car joint venture between China FAW Group Co., Ltd., and Volkswagen AG. Established in 1991, the company has five production bases across China. Its sales have exceeded 20 million units since its establishment.