German carmaker Volkswagen has commissioned a new engine manufacturing plant in the north-eastern Chinese city of Changchun.
Opened in collaboration with the German carmaker's Chinese joint venture FAW Group, the new 94,000m2 Volkswagen FAW Engine (Dalian) plant will produce EA888 engines that power Volkswagen and Audi models.
Volkswagen board of management member and Volkswagen Group China president Dr. Jochem Heizmann said the new engine plant in Changchun will power the company's vehicles in China with advanced and engines manufactured locally.
"At the same time, the Volkswagen Group's 101st plant underscores our global growth trajectory," Heizmann said.
The Changchun plant, which is the first of seven new Volkswagen facilities to be opened in China over the next few years, will have an initial production capacity of 300,000 engines per year, while it would reach 450,000 units during the scheduled second production phase from mid-2014.
Incorporating four dedicated manufacturing lines for cylinder bodies and cylinder heads in addition to crankshafts and camshafts, the facility also has two final assembly lines for cylinder heads and engines.
The new plant will be capable of manufacturing both the 1.8L and 2.0L versions of the EA888 engine.
Complying with Euro VI emission standard, the EA888 Gen 3 engine is claimed to offer enhancements in weight reduction, fuel economy, performance and emissions.
