Chinese-based Changan Automobile Company Limited, with offices in Plymouth, will expand its U.S Research and Development Center staff by 20 people. The U.S. center focuses on chassis system development and autonomous driving research, and employees 30 engineers.
The expansion, expected to complete by 2017, will support Changan’s research and development programs in the growing areas of vehicle-to-vehicle communication, as well as autonomous driving for the Chinese market.
The company has already demonstrated Level 1 crash avoidance systems in its Southeast Michigan programs. Individual vehicle controls, such as electronic stability control and braking, can be automated.
The expansion will facilitate Changan’s participation in the new MCity, a 32-acre research environment, to provide safety for the advanced testing of driverless vehicles at the University of Michigan campus.
