French automotive supplier Plastic Omnium has opened two research and development centers in Belgium and China, which are specifically designed to advance the company’s clean mobility ambitions.
Representing a total investment of 100 million euros ($113 million), the focus at the centers will be on emissions control, fuel systems and new energies development, the company announced July 4.
The Chinese center, Omegatech, is based in Wuhan and houses 150 engineers and technicians supporting Plastic Omnium’s clean mobility programs in Asia.
With 57 projects already under way, the Omegatech team is responding to the group's rapid growth in China, where its fuel systems market share is expected to double — 17 percent — by 2022.
Located near the Brussels Airport, efforts at the Belgian center, Deltatech, are targeted at emissions reduction and fuel systems.
Launched 1 July, the center also spearheads research and development into new energies, fuel cells and hydrogen storage.
The unit is expected to house 150 engineers and technicians by the end of the year.
The R&D centers are part of Plastic Omnium’s major 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion) investment program for 2017-2021, which involves construction of four production plant in the U.S., India, Morocco and Slovakia by 2019.