Shanghai (ZXZC)- Geely Technology Group, the technology development arm of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), celebrated on Mar. 2 the first spade cut for a satellite R&D base in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, signifying the take-off of aerospace industry for the city.

According to a press release, the newly-launched project will build China's first smart AIT (assembly, integration and testing) center of pulsating modular satellite, involving the satellite R&D hub, intelligent component manufacturing facility, measurement & control center and cloud-computing big data platform, etc. Leveraging the advanced assembly technologies used in automobile industry, Geely will construct a smart flexible manufacturing factory where the assembly and test for multi-type satellites can be conducted there.

The Taizhou project is part of Geely's deployment in satellite field. With growing investment in digital technology domain, Geely Holding is ambitious to build a multi-layered mobility ecosystem and turbo-charge its shift to being an innovative technology company.

In 2018, Geely pumped its strategic investment in GEESPACE, which focuses on the R&D of satellite communications system, and technologies about communications and data processing, starting the building of its space-ground integrated mobility ecosystem.

Up until now, GEESPACE has finished the qualification tests of two low-orbit satellites, which are set to be launched this year to provide more accurate data for higher-level intelligent driving vehicles.

Besides, the tech subsidiary intends to carry out in 2020 the validation of the world's first low-orbit augmented navigation system for commercial use with all of core technologies independently controlled (photo source: Geely).