Chang'an Auto established a research base in Nottingham, U.K., on Monday, its third overseas R&D center. The center is in Nottingham's Science Park, close to Nottingham University.

The center will employ 25 to 30 people, and the number is expected to grow to 200 by 2013. Employees will come from research organizations of British universities, leading auto engineering enterprises and local laborers of high quality.

Xu Liuping, chairman of the board of Chang'an Auto, said that establishing overseas R&D centers would help Chang'an improve its automotive design, interior decoration, engine power and other core competences.

The Nottingham center will also focus on exploring electric vehicles and hybrid-power cars, said Yu Chenglong, the center's project director.

Chang'an Auto now ranks the fourth in China's auto industry. Its other research centers are in Turin, Italy, and Yokohama, Japan.

China's business press carried the story above on Wednesday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.