Gasgoo Munich- On September 3, 2026, Tenneco officially opened its Global Innovation Center in Kunshan. This R&D hub integrates powertrain, air purification, and ignition technologies. The "Global" title reflects Tenneco's strategic repositioning of the Chinese market.
Image source: Tenneco (same below)
Integrating Three Technology Pillars to Strengthen Local Innovation
The center consolidates engineering resources previously scattered across multiple sites. It brings product development, engineering validation, and system integration onto a single platform. With over 200 R&D staff, more than 30 test benches, and certification laboratories, it forms a full-process R&D capability. This covers material research, simulation analysis, and testing.
Three technology lines—air purification, powertrain, and ignition—are co-located. They are developed collaboratively within the same park.
"By bringing full product capabilities into one site, we offer clients one-stop access to diverse solutions," said Nathan Bowen. He is the Tenneco executive vice president and group president of Clean Air, Powertrain, and Spark Plug Operations.
This unified collaborative environment allows Tenneco to develop and validate new technologies more efficiently. It helps respond faster to shifting customer needs. Having engine component and aftertreatment teams work side-by-side helps shorten development cycles. It also boosts system-level performance.
Jim Voss, Tenneco's global CEO, offered a practical reason for choosing Kunshan. These include top-tier engineering talent, deep industrial roots, and strong local government ties. "Companies can't go it alone. We have strong corporate strength and excellent employees, but we rely on local cooperation. That is why we chose Kunshan."
Tenneco Global CEO Jim Voss
The technology roadmap is drawing attention. "We firmly believe that internal combustion engine technologies will have a long lifecycle," said Nathan Bowen.
In his view, demand for internal combustion engines will persist. This applies to off-road machinery and long-haul commercial vehicles. There is also significant market space in data centers and generator sets. Many parts of the world are transitioning slowly. Therefore, the technology developed here serves global markets. It iterates around upgrades in emission regulations.
He predicts that this technology roadmap will maintain solid growth over the coming decades. The demand is visible.
Results are already materializing. In recent years, the Kunshan engineering team led multiple global development projects. It secured over 400 patents, including 15 global ones. The team participated in developing technologies for hybrid vehicles. It also worked on China's National VII commercial vehicle applications and data center power generation equipment.
A standout example is the pre-chamber spark plug. It is the world's first project to implement this technology. This further enhances combustion efficiency in high-performance engines. The client is a German company with operations in Europe and China. The entire technology suite was developed within the innovation center.
It fits internal combustion engines, mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and extended-range vehicles. It delivers fuel savings of 3% to 5%. Mass production is expected in China as early as 2027. Several leading domestic brands plan to equip their next-generation products with it.
For hybrid vehicles, the compact exhaust system uses a highly integrated design. It combines key exhaust and NVH components into a single module. This frees up more chassis space. It offers greater flexibility for overall vehicle development.
Next-generation high-performance muffler technology achieves full-frequency noise reduction in a compact space. Related solutions improve nitrogen oxide control for diesel engines. This applies during cold starts and low-load conditions. Currently, these technologies are used in customer projects. They help meet increasingly strict emission regulations.
"Bringing top engineering talent closer to Chinese customers and turning local innovation into solutions that serve the global market." Jim Voss believes this is Tenneco's answer. It reflects a deep commitment to China.
"In China, for the World": China Is No Longer Just a Market, But a Source of Innovation
Deepening its presence in China is just the first layer. The more critical step is establishing China as a source of global innovation.
"It is no longer just 'In China, for China'. Local Chinese technology is now driving global development," Jim Voss observed. Technology originating in China is being exported worldwide. This goes beyond the component level.
This perspective is increasingly common among multinational auto parts giants.
Nathan Bowen was even more direct. "We used to say 'In China, for China.' Now it has truly become 'In China, for the World.' Developing new products here serves the Chinese market. On the other hand, it exports technology to other global regions."
Tenneco Group Executive Vice President and President of Clean Air, Powertrain, and Spark Plug Operations
Nathan Bowen
China is already the world's most competitive and fastest-iterating market. "To be a top global player, you must succeed globally," said Jim Voss. "But you also must succeed in the Chinese market."
The collective expansion of automakers overseas has opened new avenues. Tenneco notes that the auto industry exported approximately 8 million vehicles last year. The next phase's target could near 10 million. Leading domestic brands like BYD, Geely, Chery, Changan, and SAIC are building plants abroad.
Tenneco leverages a global network of over 30 countries. It has more than 80 factories and 39 R&D centers. It has a presence in Spain, Eastern Europe, Brazil, and Mexico. These are key areas where Chinese automakers are focusing. Coordinated by the Chinese team, it builds local supply chains for these domestic brands. "We hold the technology, the capacity, and global scale. We act as a solid partner on their journey abroad."
Another path is the reverse export of technology. The compact exhaust system Tenneco unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show was designed for hybrid models. Over the past few years, hybrid technology has iterated rapidly. Dual-power architectures have compressed available installation space. At one point, the market lacked sufficiently compact adaptation systems. This system was developed to fill that gap. After gathering feedback in the Chinese market, it is now exported globally. This matches the worldwide hybrid wave.
Tenneco Asia Pacific President Li Xiang
"The China team is playing an increasingly important role in Tenneco's global innovation network and growth strategy," said Li Xiang. He is the Tenneco Asia Pacific President. Through this platform, Tenneco combines global engineering experience with local innovation. This accelerates the speed to market. It also better serves domestic and international customers. By combining China's development speed with Tenneco's global standards, the center enhances support for Chinese automakers. It helps them expand overseas.
"In China, for the World" is not just a postural commitment. For Tenneco, market growth, the dividends of overseas expansion, and engineering efficiency are tangible business realities.
