福特汽车在进入中国市场的几十年以来不断加大在华的产品投放和技术培养，且逐步提高自主研发能力。10月18日，长安福特在重庆隆重举行了新工程开发中心开工活动，宣布将新投资约8亿元人民币扩建工程开发中心，进一步增强长安福特的产品开发能力以及测试能力，提升国产车质量，并且也将提升包括发动机、变速箱在内的多种核心零部件的技术水平。长安福特工程开发中心最早成立于2001年，并在成立的16年中一直悉心为长安福特全系产品提供着技术保障。长安福特新工程开发中心将按照福特全球工程标准投资新建一系列的车辆测试及试验设施。这些设施的建成将大幅提升长安福特在整车、发动机、变速箱以及零部件方面的测试能力。众多尖端技术和业内领先的硬件设施中，最引人关注的是全球先进的环境和气动声学整车风洞试验室。该风洞试验室投入使用后，长安福特可大幅提高开发质量和效率。实际上，早在2015年，福特汽车就已针对中国市场制定了面向2020年的新五年规划。未来五年，福特将在中国市场投放114亿元人民币用于增强在华的产品研发能力，到2020年，福特将在中国市场推出20款车型，包括全新车型和现有车型换代。五年规划更着重加大企业自主研发能力，并推进国产化、新能源、整车/核心零部件产能以及智能化领域。此次扩建重庆工程研发中心可以算是新战略中的重要一步，在不断加大国产化和自主研发能力的同时，也是为即将到来的新能源时代提供国产化的技术储备。
Changan Ford invests RMB 800m to expand R&D center
Ford Auto is continuing to launch new products and research on new technologies in domestic market since its entry. It’s learned that Changan Ford held a start-up activity on new project development center in Chongqing on October 18th, announcing to invest a total RMB 800m to expand the center and further strengthen Changan Ford’s product development capabilities and testing abilities, so as to lift product qualities for domestic vehicles and promote technologies of key parts including engines and gearboxes as well.
Established in 2001, Changan Ford Project Development Center always provides technical supports for Changan Ford products. The center will invest in a series of auto testing and trial equipment, in accordance with Ford global project standards. The built facilities will greatly promote Changan Ford’s testing capabilities in vehicles, engines, gearboxes and parts. The operation of the mostly eye-catching wind tunnel laboratory, which is a globally advanced environmental and aeroacoustics lab, will promote Changan Ford’s development quality and efficiency greatly.
In fact, Changan auto made a five-year plan on domestic market in 2015, planning to invest RMB 11.4b to strengthen its R&D capabilities in the market and launch 20 models by the year 2020. The new plan will focus on self-independent R&D capabilities and promote progress in domestic products, alternative energy area and intelligent vehicles. The expansion on Chongqing Project R&D center is an important step in the new strategy, providing technical storage for the on-coming alternative energy era.