Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd, one of China's top automakers, recently opened a manufacturing plant in the provincial capital of Hefei in Anhui province that can apparently assemble a car in 51 seconds flat.

JAC also introduced its first new sport utility vehicle with versions for both the domestic and North American markets that will debut on the market on March 18 and some time in April, respectively.

The automaker, founded in 1964, opened a third plant to construct passenger cars on Jan 5. Construction of the plant was three years in the making on a 100-hectare area and an investment of nearly 3 billion yuan ($476 million). Annual production capacity will be 240,000 cars.

Dai Maofang, general manager of the passenger car division of JAC, said JAC is ranked No 249 among China's top 500 companies and ranks first in Hefei for its vehicles and parts.

JAC President An Jin said the automaker's new Refine S5 car will enable the company to venture into larger markets in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. He said the recently opened passenger car plant is a milestone for JAC and will allow the automaker to widen its product range for the Refine and Heyue series.

In 2012, JAC sold approximately 500,000 units of vehicles, An said. It added more than 100 auto dealerships and 13 plants overseas. JAC projects sales of 1.6 million units with revenue of 100 billion yuan by 2015.

Zhao Tao, president of JAC's research institute for passenger cars, said with advanced equipment and sound products, the new JAC factory will be one of the leading auto plants in the world.

Tao Zhi, general manager of marketing for JAC's passenger car division, said JAC is developing both of its brands: the commercial-use Refine series and the home-use Heyue series.

Tao said while the Heyue series sells more than 10,000 units each month, he hopes the Refine S5 can meet that mark.

Oliver Van Ruymbeke, a JAC co-operative partner in Brazil, said in a speech at the plant's opening ceremony that while JAC cars sell successfully in South America, he hopes the new factory and the new car in China will be as successful as the JAC plant in Brazil.

Domenico Cappell, general manager of SEVEL Co in Uruguay and also a JAC partner, said that every Refine S5 car from the new factory will represent the high quality of JAC.

He said he is confident that SEVEL Co will cooperate successfully in venturing around the globe with JAC.

Li Jiashou, chief engineer of the Anhui Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission, said as the leading car firm in East China's Anhui, JAC will increase its market share, upgrade its quality and widen its manufacturing capacity with the new plant.

He said JAC will continue to be a leading example for Chinese companies going global on behalf of Anhui province and China.

machenguang@chinadaily.com.cn