Porsche has inaugurated its first overseas research and development center in China, aiming to accelerate innovation in the country’s rapidly evolving automotive market as sales soften.

The facility, officially launched on November 5 in Shanghai’s Jiading district, integrates R&D, procurement, and quality control under one roof, according to Oliver Blume, CEO of the Stuttgart-based automaker.

He added that the new center enjoys independent decision-making authority, allowing Porsche to shorten its development cycles from years to just months.