(Yicai Global) Feb. 2 -- Chinese electric carmaker Li Auto plans to establish a new research and development center in Shanghai. Expected to accommodate more than 2,000 employees, it will be dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies for smart electric vehicles.

Recruitment has already started, the Beijing-based company said in a statement posted on its website today. It did not divulge any financial details of the project.

The new R&D hub will focus on developing high-voltage platforms, next generation smart cockpits, and technologies for ultra-fast charging and autonomous driving, Li Auto said. It will also have end-to-end development capabilities for new models.

Shanghai teems with top-notch talent in the smart auto industry and neighboring areas are rich in supply chain resources, Li Auto co-founder Shen Yanan said. The new center will help to speed up new model launches and the development of smart vehicle technologies, he added.

Shanghai has become a heartland for the smart electric vehicle industry in recent years. Tesla’s first overseas plant was built here in 2019 and Nio, another of Li Auto’s rivals, has its headquarters in the city.

Li Auto also released its January delivery figures today. The firm delivered 5,379 Li Ones, its first mass-produced vehicle, a 356 percent increase from a year earlier, resulting in total deliveries of 38,976. At the end of last month, Li Auto also had 60 retail stores covering 47 cities across China.

Editor: Peter Thomas