China's state-owned automaker FAW Group plans to invest RMB139 million in a technical retrofit project to enhance the group's strength in auto intelligence and connectivity, according to  an environmental impact report recently released by the Bureau of Ecology and Environment of Changchun.

The capital will be pumped to improve FAW R&D headquarters' capabilities in product testing and verification, so as to better meet the demands for the development of Hongqi-branded new models, according to the file.

FAW Group ICV investment, FAW Hongqi sales, China automotive news

（Photo source: FAW Hongqi)

Under the project, a facility covering an area of 2,100 square meters is scheduled to be set up and start operation in May, 2020. The report said the facility is designed to satisfy the automaker's demands in the independent development of controller-used hardware & software, network tests, virtual simulation test for intelligent driving and the test drive on open roads. Specific works will include the self-development of DHT (dedicated hybrid transmission), Ethernet hardware test, LTE-V data agreement test, simulation on the objective tested, smart sensor test as well as data collection.