WM Motor to establish global R&D center in Chengdu

Chinese electric car startup WM Motor is to build its global research and development center in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

When completed, the 5.5 billion yuan ($784 million) center will become the first facility dedicated to developing new energy passenger vehicles and relevant technologies in the province, the startup said on Friday.

The center will coordinate its global research and development efforts, with a special focus on the application of cutting-edge technologies including 5G and artificial intelligence in vehicles.

Established in 2015, WM has around 3,000 employees, working in cities including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, Sichuan province.

It also has a vehicle research facility in Germany, and its plant is located in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

The startup, valued at 41 billion yuan, now has three SUVs in the market, with the first deliveries starting in September 2018. Its total sales so far have exceeded 30,000.

The company said it will launch another two SUVs and one sedan by the end of 2021. The sedan, called Maven, will have a range of 800 kilometers on one charge and feature Level 4 autonomous driving functions, said WM.