Changan Auto to produce self-developed engines

Shanghai. October 19 (Gasgoo.com) Changan Automobile Group is going to produce two new self-developed gasoline engines in near future, state owned Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.

According to the general manager of Changan Auto, Xu Luiping, one will be a 1.8 liter engine codenamed CA18, while the other known as the CB10VVT will be a 1.0 liter engine featuring variable valve timing (VVT) technology.

The automaker has also announced plans to build another research and development (R&D) centre in Japan in addition to its existing three R&D centers in Chongqing, Shanghai and Turin, Italy.

The engines to be produced are part of Changan's development plan, under which the automaker will invest 12 billion yuan ($1.6 bln) to develop local brands and will launch 30 complete vehicles and 12 engines before 2010, Xu said earlier this week.

"By 2010, Changan's production capacity will reach 2 million units, while 1.2 million of which will be our own brand vehicles,” Xu added.