GM on Tuesday began the construction of a new $250 million corporate campus in Shanghai, which includes a research and development center that will focus on study of alternative fuels.
The GM Campus, which covers 120,000 square meters in Jinqiao Export Processing Zone in the city's Pudong New Area, will house its China and Asia Pacific headquarters alongside the GM Center for Advanced Research and Science, according to Shanghai Daily.

The new facility will spur exploration of alternative fuels, advanced alternative energy compulsion systems and manufacturing and supply energy efficiency through local cooperation.

"No major market is expected to grow faster or play a more important role in the automotive industry's ongoing development than China," president of GM China Kevin Wale cited by Dow Jones said at the ground-breaking ceremony yesterday.

"Our new campus will position GM to remain a leader in China and globally by enabling us to take full advantage of the tremendous opportunities this market has to offer," said him.

The campus will open its first phase in 2009, GM said in a statement. When fully operational, the center will have 2,500 employees, including 300 research personnel.

In related news, GM announced plans yesterday to offer the Volt in China in 2011. China will be one of the first markets to offer the vehicle outside the United States, where it is scheduled to go on sale in 2010.