(Yicai Global) Aug. 20 -- FAW-Volkswagen Automobile, a joint venture between the China FAW Group and Germany's Volkswagen, has opened its CNY1.7 billion (USD241 million) vehicle testing ground after completing the first phase, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

After four years of construction in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province, the area covers six square kilometers and has more than 60 km of test track that reflects the typical topography and road layouts of China. There are five sections for the testing of enhanced durability, airbags, dynamics, overall performance and ring roads for high-speed cars. 

The test site is important in making Changchun a world-class vehicle manufacturing base, Mayor Liu Xin said. It completes the city's auto industrial chain from research and development, manufacturing, parts and components finishing to testing.

The project's second phase began construction in June last year and is expected to be finished next March. The third phase is still under design and will be used for autonomous driving tests.

Founded in 1953, state-owned FAW set up the joint venture with Volkswagen in 1991. The JV has five car plants, one each in Changchun, Foshan, Chengdu, Qingdao and Tianjin. In 2018, sales rose 2.6 percent from a year earlier to 2.1 billion units.