Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) News
Printer Friendly VersionSwRI-CATARC joint venture in China opens for business
TIANJIN, China -- October 26, 2005 -- A joint venture between Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the state-owned China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) officially opened for business in the People's Republic of China.
The joint venture, called Tianjin SwARC Automotive Research Laboratory Co., Ltd., on October 21, appointed Li Jun as general manager during its first board meeting since being granted a Chinese business license in September.
SwARC provides independent and impartial evaluation of automotive products, powertrain components and automotive system designs. It also develops protocols for evaluating exhaust aftertreatment devices and systems and organizes and conducts consortia and evaluations for the Chinese government and transportation and energy industries.
Li previously served as chief engineer of the CATARC Intelligent Transport Systems research institute. He is proficient in engine bench testing and has experience in project management and marketing.
J. Dan Bates, SwRI president and first SwARC board chairman, said, "I and other members of the board of directors of SwARC, from both SwRI and CATARC, are excited about the many business opportunities that are available to SwARC in this very important area of emissions evaluation and control, and the energy and dedication of SwARC's staff to make this operation a success."
SwARC, owned equally by SwRI and CATARC, has five fully equipped cells for performing engine dynamometer testing and emissions measurement and analysis.
CATARC, also based in Tianjin, is a state-owned technical and administrative entity of the Chinese automotive industry. It provides standardization and technical regulation, product certification and testing research, quality system certification, information and databases for the auto industry, engineering management and design, enterprise management science research, and automotive high-technology development and applications. It leases the laboratory building to SwARC, and both CATARC and SwRI furnish equipment for SwARC.
SwRI, which currently operates a representative business office in Beijing, has established a technical presence in China and is furthering its scientific purposes through its participation in SwARC, which draws on SwRI's expertise in automotive emissions research and its leadership role in developing protocols for diesel aftertreatment evaluations in the U.S.
For more information, contact Joe Fohn, Communications Department, (210) 522-4036, Southwest Research Institute, PO Drawer 28510, San Antonio, TX 78228-0510.
