WUXI, Jiangsu, China -- Dana Holding Corp. broke ground this week on a new technical center in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.

The new technical center will provide advanced product and applications engineering through research, design, development and testing of off-highway axles, driveshafts and transmissions; commercial vehicle driveshafts; light-duty axles and driveshafts; and sealing and thermal products, including electric vehicle battery coolers. The center is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2011.

"Dana is proud to be breaking ground on its 14th global technical center as we celebrate our 20th year in China," said Aziz Aghili, Dana's president of Asia Pacific. "We have already experienced considerable success in China and believe there is great opportunity for future growth here in the off-highway, commercial vehicle and light-vehicle markets."

IHS Global Insight reports that China is the largest producer of heavy trucks globally. In addition, in 2009, China became the world's largest automotive market and will account for more than 25 percent of global light vehicle production by 2014.

Dana says the new China Technical Center will be adjacent to the Dana Wuxi Technologies Company Ltd., facility, which was established in 2003 and assembles axles, driveshafts and transmissions for the off-highway market, as well as thermal products. The new facility will encompass 130,000 square feet of space and employ nearly 200 people.  

"This investment in a state-of-the-art test laboratory and production space in China allows us to continue to bring innovative technologies to the global marketplace," said George Constand, Dana's chief technical and quality officer. "The center will support our global product development efforts and will enable Dana to continue designing products specifically for customers and consumers in the Asia-Pacific region."

Dana began manufacturing in China in 1991. Currently, Dana maintains an interest in seven China-based operations, serving the light vehicle, commercial-vehicle and off-highway markets.