A BMW M235i XDrive is displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, January 12, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

SHENYANG - German automaker BMW opened its first engine plant in China on Friday.

The plant, based in the northeastern city of Shenyang, belongs to its Chinese joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) Holdings Ltd. It began construction in August 2013.

The plant, which covers an area of 900,000 square meters, is BMW's first engine plant outside Europe and will mainly serve the Chinese market. It will produce the latest generation of the BMW TwinPower Turbo three- and four-cylinder petrol engines.

The plant has foundry, mechanical processing and assembly workshops. It is the only engine plant with a foundry workshop outside Germany, according to BBA president Anton Heiss at the opening ceremony.

The introduction of key technology in China shows BMW's commitment to localization and confidence in the Chinese market, said Heiss.

BBA, founded in May 2003 between BMW and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd, has two automotive plants in Shenyang. It produced 287,000 units in 2015, according to a BMW statement released on Friday.