The preliminary design of the automotive wind tunnel project of the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, has been completed, liangjiang.gov.cn reported on Dec 2.

The automotive wind tunnel project is expected to be constructed and put into operation in 2018. Upon its completion, it will become the largest and best-equipped one of its kind in China, serving R&D and testing for new automobile products.

China Automotive Engineering Research Institute invested 430 million yuan ($67.2 million) in the project, aiming to construct a full-size automotive aerodynamic-acoustic wind tunnel whose maximum air speed is 250km/h and an environmental wind tunnel that will be able to simulate different weather conditions.

The project is constructed with the view to support research on how to reduce noise and the effects of wind resistance and therefore improve the quality of domestic vehicles as well as solidify Liangjiang's position in automobile production industry.