Construction of a testing project for intelligent-connected and new energy vehicles began in Shaoguan, Guangdong province, on Thursday.

The project, jointly launched by GAC Group, a major automobile manufacturer in South China, and the Shaoguan government, occupies an area of 8,600 mu, or about 573 hectares, with an investment of 2.15 billion yuan ($307.2 million).

The project will be an open and comprehensive testing center for new energy, intelligent-connected and unmanned driving vehicles, Zeng Qinghong, chairman of GAC Group, said.

"It will be a testing, authentication and examination facility, opened for all automobile and parts-related businesses," Zeng said.

The project will help lay a solid foundation for GAC Group's strategic development in the future as the Guangzhou-based company has been focusing on electrification, intelligence and Internet-connected business.

GAC Group has launched sales of its full electric models of Aion S and Aion LX.

In the first 11 months of 2019, GAC's sales of new energy cars increased by 91.4 percent year-on-year, according to the company source.