German carmaker Audi has opened a Research & Development (R&D) Center in Beijing, China to strengthen its innovations in Asian region.
The center is spread across an area of 8,000sqm and houses aboratories, prototype and R&D workshops.
The research and development teams at the center will be offer product customization including electronics and connectivity solutions for Asian customers.
AUDI Board of Management chairman Rupert Stadler said that the engineering teams will work in close contact with the customers in Asia.
"And they will ensure that valuable ideas and innovations from Asia can be integrated into the early conceptual development phase of our products," Stadler said.
Volkswagen Group China president and CEO Dr. Jochem Heizmann said that with this R&D center, Audi is entering a new stage of development in Asia.
"Consumers in this region, and especially the Chinese consumers, have an increasingly high level of influence on trends in the global automotive industry," Heizmann added.
The R&D functions of the center include engine, body, electronics and battery development, a prototype workshop, vehicle test facilities and 3D development environments.
