(Yicai Global) March 23 -- FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co.'s production plant in Tianjin, North China, has started pre-mass production after two years of construction and is expected to become fully operational in the second half of this year, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The production base started construction in May 2016, with a project cost of CNY19.5 billion (USD3.08 billion) and includes stamping, welding, painting and assembly workshops, the report said, citing officials of the Tianjin economic and technological development committee.

The plant will generate an additional output value of CNY30 billion to CNY40 billion and create 6,000 jobs for the local auto parts industry, the committee estimates. It will also facilitate the development of Tianjin's logistics, finance, insurance and other relevant sectors.

The plant's production line includes Volkswagen and Audi brand vehicles and will have 985 robots in its welding workshop, representing an automation rate of 79 percent, said an official of FAW-Wolkswagen. The automation rate in the painting workshop will reach 60 percent, with a fully-automated wire-painting section. 

FAW-Volkswagen is a joint venture between China's state-owned FAW Group Corp. and Germany's Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and Volkswagen Automobile Investment Co. It manufactures Audi and Volkswagen brand vehicles for sale in China.