"Establishing a technology center will keep Great Wall abreast with advanced safety technologies and enable it to fast improve vehicle safety and go upscale on the international market," said Huang Yong, the company's vice president for technology, in a statement.

Huang made his remarks last week when Great Wall signed a cooperation agreement with TNO, an organization in the Netherlands that conducts r&d on transport and mobility.

Under the agreement, TNO will provide technical support for Great Wall's vehicle crash testing and pedestrian protection technology.

Great Wall has yet to disclose further details about its planned European technical center.

Headquartered in the north China city of Baoding, Great Wall has exported a small number of vehicles to Italy and Sweden. Later this year, it plans to assemble vehicles from complete knock-down kits in Bulgaria.