On January 18, 2011, Chang'an Automobile Company, Ltd. celebrated the opening of its U.S. research and development center in Plymouth Township, fulfilling their global R&D plan of nine locations in five counties. Other locations include Italy, Japan, England, and China, and each center will have its own focus. Chang'an plans to invest $7 million to lease the Plymouth facility and conduct automotive analysis, tests, simulation, and verification creating 161 jobs. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a state tax credits valued at $1.7 million over seven years.
Chang'an is China's fourth-largest automaker and has a joint venture with Ford Motor
Company. China has the largest auto market with 2010 sales exceeding 18 million vehicles and expected to grow to 40 million over the next 10 years.
This is yet another success for Wayne County's Executive Robert A. Ficano who has led 6 trade missions to China. Mr. Ficano first met with leaders from Chang'an during his 2009 trade mission. In April 2009, Chang'an delegates visited Michigan and Wayne County along with other competing sites in Ohio and California. Working with EDGE's development officers and China program team for nine months, Chang'an is the first Chinese automotive OEM to open an R&D center in the U.S.
The opening ceremony of the Chang’an facility included remarks from:
- Dr. Jianmin Gu, Chief Engineer of Changan Auto Global R&D Center
- Mr. Gang Feng, Deputy General Manager of Changan U.S. R&D Center
- Mr. Robert A. Ficano, Wayne County Executive
- Mr. L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive
- Mr. Richard Reaume, Plymouth Township Supervisor
- Ms. Jingjing Zhang, HR Director of Changan
Terri Desautels is a Senior Executive Project Manager with Wayne County EDGE.
Photos by James Wallace, Senior Creative, Wayne County Communications Team
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