Guangzhou Automobile Group, or GAC Group, launched its research and development center in Detroit on Tuesday, marking the company's latest step in its global R&D capabilities after setting up two centers in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.

The upgraded R&D network of GAC Group will promote innovation and help GAC Motor, a subsidiary, become a leading auto brand overseas in terms of market scale, its executives said.

Registered in April 2018, the new R&D center is located in Detroit's key industrial area, Farmington Hills, which boasts excellent staff and supply resources.

The center's floor space exceeds 4,500 square meters, where it has several laboratories and areas for trial production and testing.

According to Yang Rongshan, operation director of the Detroit R&D center, about 30 professionals are currently there.

As one of GAC Group's most important sites for international R&D planning, the center is focused on vehicle integration, powertrain and vehicle safety.

This includes high-temperature testing in Death Valley, highland testing and winter testing in northern Michigan, road durability and reliability testing in the Transportation Research Center in Ohio, said Yang.

The center has joined hands with Smithers Rapra, a global leader in rubber, plastics and polymer testing, consulting services, conferences, training and market reports, for technological cooperation and exchange.

Overseas R&D facilities are expected to accelerate the core capabilities of GAC Group and help supply quality products of oriental character to the United States and other worldwide markets, added Wang Qiujing, president of GAC R&D Center.

The group launched its Silicon Valley center in April 2017.

As its first R&D center overseas, it signifies the company's internationalization of R&D and future-oriented electrification and digitization.

In April 2018, GAC Group launched its advanced design center in Los Angeles.

The center aims to raise the design team to a world-leading level in brand design, concept car design and localization design in North America.

(China Daily 01/17/2019 page15)