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GM China Advanced Technical Center Phase I Opens

Shanghai facility joins global network of automaker’s R&D labs

2011-09-21

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SHANGHAI – General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson participated in Tuesday’s opening of the first phase of the GM China Advanced Technical Center, joining the GM network of technical centers to conduct R&D for the company on a worldwide basis.

“The ATC is an integral component of GM’s global technology development strategy,” said Akerson. “As one of GM’s most important and comprehensive technical and design facilities, it will lead GM’s global research and development efforts in targeted areas. Working with our company’s other technical centers, it will share the latest achievements and expertise to drive the innovation of tomorrow’s technology.”

The center is the most comprehensive advanced automotive technology development center in China. It will house four key GM technical and design organizations: the China Science Lab, Vehicle Engineering Lab, Advanced Powertrain Engineering Lab and Advanced Design Center. When completed, the 65,000-square-meter center will include 62 test labs and nine research labs. It will eventually be home to more than 300 employees, including engineers, designers, researchers and technicians.

The first phase – the Advanced Materials Laboratory Building – includes a battery cell testing lab, battery material lab, metallography and electrochemical lab, cell fabrication lab, and micro-foundry and formability lab. It will focus on research in lightweight materials and battery cells for the development of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, extended-range electric vehicles and other advanced technology vehicles.

The center will share learning and support ongoing engineering work at GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture with SAIC in Shanghai as well as at GM’s operations globally. It will leverage China-specific expertise throughout the GM network.

“The ATC reinforces GM's commitment to advanced technology leadership in China,” said GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale. “It represents an important step forward for realizing GM’s vision of sustainable mobility, which we showcased at World Expo 2010 Shanghai. It will ensure that GM keeps up with the needs of our local customers through the development of cutting-edge automotive technology that is cleaner, more efficient and affordable.”

GM broke ground for the ATC in July 2010. The second phase is scheduled to open in the second half of 2012.

General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 11 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 35,000 employees in China. GM and its joint ventures offer the broadest lineup of vehicles and brands among automakers in China. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles are sold under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands. In 2010, GM sold more than 2.35 million vehicles in China, which represented 28.8 percent growth over the prior year. It has been the sales leader among global automakers in the market for six consecutive years. More information on General Motors in China can be found at GM Media Online.

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