Project of China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) South China Base began construction in Zengcheng district of Guangzhou on Oct 13, marking the beginning of second key project in Zengcheng in 2017 following the Foxconn's 61-billion-yuan ($9.2-billion) 10.5-generation panel plant project which started construction in March this year.

CATARC South China Base began construction in Zengcheng district of Guangzhou on Oct 13. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com] 

CATARC is a science research institute established in 1985 in the city of Tianjin to meet China's need of managing the automotive industry. It now belongs to State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. It is the centralized technical organization of the auto industry and the technical supporting body to the relevant national government departments.

The new project, with an investment of 1.85 billion yuan, will consist of several laboratories on areas such as new-energy vehicles, spare parts, car emission and a trial run runway and a car testing square. Once completed, the base will provide better technological services for the automobile industry in Guangzhou.

The automobile industry in Guangzhou has been booming in the recent years, with companies like Guangzhou Automobile Group, Dongfeng-Nissan and BYD Co growing at a rapid pace in the city. Technological services such as product testing, technology consulting and engineering design are in urgent need.

CATARC South China Base will cover an area of 95.5 acres and the project will be completed in two years. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com] 

The CATARC South China Base is a strategic move for CATARC to serve regional economy development and promote the upgrading and restructuring of the automobile industry, according to Yu Kai, Party Chief of CATARC.  

"Zengcheng district, with great supporting industry advantages and good business environment, is a great place to invest," Yu added.

In the future, Guangzhou will seek all-dimension cooperation with CATARC in terms of product testing, quality authentication and technologies consultation and the city will build an international spare part park based in Zengcheng district.

Simulated view of CATARC South China Base. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]