The center will employ more than 1,000 engineers, according to TRW, and will provide r&d, engineering, design and testing for all TRW products.

TRW plans to break ground for the center this fall. The company has 10 plants in China.

TRW, of Livonia, Mich., makes brakes, airbags, steering systems, suspensions and other safety systems. It ranks No. 11 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide original-equipment automotive parts sales of $11.6 billion in fiscal 2009.