HEFEI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- German car manufacturer Volkswagen inaugurated a research and development (R&D) center in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, on Tuesday to promote e-mobility development in China.
The newly built R&D center will integrate different departments, including R&D, quality assurance and testing, in an industrial zone and focus on the industrialization of products.
"With China being the world's largest NEV market, the country is an innovative powerhouse for the auto industry. That's why we need to build up and strengthen our local R&D expertise in China, for China, and from China to the world," said Stephan Wollenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
As Volkswagen has increased its stake in JAC Volkswagen to 75 percent, the joint venture JAC Volkswagen was renamed as Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited this month and Volkswagen has taken over the management control.
The second phase of the expansion project of Volkswagen Anhui, scheduled to start in 2021, will see an upgrade in the production line's infrastructure and equipment, according to Wollenstein.
The factory will have an annual vehicle production capacity of some 350,000 units, with the first model to roll off the line in 2023. Enditem
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