Dongfeng Motor Co has started to build an engine plant in Wuhan, capital Hubei province, with production due to begin in the second half of 2011. Xinhua reported that the engine plant will have an initial capacity to produce 60,000 1.6-litre engines a year.

Dongfeng Motor Co is a joint venture between Dongfeng and Nissan that started operations in 2003. It makes trucks, commercial vehicles and passenger cars for the China market.

Li Chunrong, vice general manager of Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle, said the engine plant aimed to produce a variety of self-developed engines for all Dongfeng’s economy and high-end passenger cars.