The halfway point of construction for Guangzhou Automobile Group's (GAC) Xinjiang plant was achieved on Aug 9, at the Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone (Toutunhe district), according to local reports.

The production base is expected to be completed and operation by the end of the year, and will consist of an assembly line, offices, testing center, and logistics department.

The 34,500-square-meter base is the latest in GAC's efforts to expand production in western China and gain further market reach across the country and Central Asia.

Upon completion, the base will produce up to 20,000 GS4 general energy vehicles annually, with further expansion hoping to reach a maximum production of 50,000 vehicles per year.

Huang Rimian, project leader of the new production base, said, "The assembly shop is now capped and is projected to be completed by the end of September."

Huang added, "About 60 percent of the steel used in the project is supplied by a local steel company, not only saving transport costs but also promoting the local economy."

Yan Guidong, general manager of GAC Group's Xinjiang branch, said the vehicle produced at the base will be used to meet the local market demand as well as being exported to Central Asian countries.