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GM and PATAC Join EDS, Sun Microsystems and UGS PLM Software for Establishment of PACE Center at Tongji University


WEBWIRE

Shanghai, China – In order to promote the continued development of China’s automotive industry and foster industry talent, General Motors and its Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture have joined EDS, Sun Microsystems and UGS PLM Software in the creation of a PACE Center at Tongji University in Shanghai.

PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) was founded in 1999. It has supported 39 leading academic institutions in 10 countries around the world through the contribution of computer-based engineering tools. Its goal is to provide students in mechanical design, engineering, analysis and manufacturing the practical skills they need for their professional careers.

The partners are providing the PACE Center at Tongji University’s Jiading campus more than 700 seats of product lifecycle management (PLM) software including NX™, Teamcenter™ and Tecnomatix™ from UGS PLM Solutions, hardware for 50 workstations and GM-certified advanced training. The software and hardware is valued at more than US$400 million. It is the largest single in-kind contribution made in the Asia Pacific region since the establishment of the PACE program.

The Tongji University PACE Center represents the first time that a world-class automotive PLM platform is being integrated into a Chinese university’s classroom and laboratory curriculum. It has tremendous significance for the cultivation of automotive engineers and the university’s own long-term development.

The PACE Center will not just be open to students in automotive engineering. Students and educators from disciplines such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering and industrial design will also be invited to make use of the Center.

Among the attendees at today’s PACE Center opening ceremony at Tongji University were officials from Shanghai Municipality’s Department of Science and Technology and Department of Education, GM China General Manager of Beijing Operations David Chen, PATAC President Raymond Bierzynski and Executive Vice President Yu Xiuhui, EDS Global Power Systems Director Alan Tung, Sun Microsystems Greater China Region Director Tony Lam, UGS director of UGS PLM Software Global Community Relations and GO PLM programs, Hulas King, and Tongji University Committee Chair Zhou Jialun and President Wan Gang.

According to David Chen, “This donation is very important for the training of China’s engineering talent. The cutting-edge CAD tools will give students essential practical experience, allowing them to contribute to the ongoing development of China’s automotive industry. Our donation represents part of GM’s commitment to help lead China’s automotive industry into the future.”

“PATAC is proud to be extending our cooperation with Tongji University to provide students advanced technology and product lifecycle management training,” said Raymond Bierzynski. “Our goal is to become a world-class automotive engineering, design and testing center. We expect the PACE Center to provide students an even stronger background in automotive engineering, which is the kind of experience we need to reach our goal.”

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Wan Gang said, We appreciate the confidence that PACE has shown in Tongji University through the establishment of the PACE Center. It will create a stable base for the creation of a first-class, open and international educational and scientific platform. It also will increase the position and effectiveness of Chinese universities within the automotive engineering field while enhancing cooperation between Chinese universities and multinational corporations in research and development and the fostering of industry professionals.”

“Partnering with Tongji University is an honor,” said Chuck Yuan, vice president and managing director for Greater China Operations, UGS PLM Software. “The university is one of China’s most prestigious schools and is widely known for their superior engineering programs. We are excited about investing in China’s future through education.”

Tongji University, which is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2007, is one of China’s most prestigious academic institutions and an important training ground for Chinese automotive industry talent. The Tongji University Automotive Institute was established in 2002. With the help of a RMB 400 million contribution from government institutions and corporations, it has acquired cutting-edge automobile and engine R&D testing equipment. The institution has produced four generations of a locally designed and developed fuel cell vehicle, which it is aiming to manufacture on a large scale. By the end of this year, it will complete construction of the Shanghai Ground Transport Wind Tunnel Center and Automotive Modeling Research Center.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

UGS PLM Software, a division of Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D), is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 4.4 million licensed seats and 47,000 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, UGS PLM Software’s vision is to enable a world where organizations and their partners collaborate through global innovation networks to deliver world-class products and services while leveraging UGS PLM Software’s open enterprise solutions, fulfilling the mission of enabling them to transform their process of innovation.

The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg, Germany, is the leading manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes. A&D employs 70,600 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2006 (to September 30) earned a group profit of $1.572 billion on sales of $12.848 billion and orders of $14.108 billion, according to U.S. GAAP. Further information about A&D is available in the Internet at www.siemens.com/automation.

The Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) is a 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC). Established in Shanghai on June 12, 1997, PATAC is China’s first automotive engineering and design joint venture, and the country’s largest R&D center. The vision of PATAC is to become China’s leader in providing competitive world-class automotive design, development and testing services. PATAC offers its services to GM, SAIC and their domestic joint ventures. PATAC and its 1,200-member engineering team have been involved in several notable vehicle programs for Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling. PATAC also has developed a series of concept vehicles that have been shown in China and the United States. Its latest engineering and design achievement, the Buick Riviera concept vehicle which showcases the future design direction for the Buick brand, was one of the most prominent vehicles on display at the recently concluded Auto Shanghai 2007.




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