According to the agreement, the two companies have jointly invested in the lab facility, equipment, development boards and tools. Software and hardware engineers from both companies plan to team up for product development, evaluation and support, in addition to training and market development activities.

The joint lab is expected to encompass six core technologies:

• Power conversion;

• Control and diagnosis;

• Safety monitoring;

• Information and communication;

• Power electronics; and

• Test and control.

Joint development efforts are expected to focus on the following application systems: AC drive systems; train control and diagnostics; railway safe driving carriers; locomotive and passenger information; passenger train electrics and information; and electric and control systems for engineering mechanics.

Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co., Ltd is a leading integrator and supplier of carrier electric systems for the track transport industry in China. Its primary focus is research and development for electric drive technology and industry and civil converter technology.

It develops and produces the electric control units of electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, subway and light rail locomotives, buses, large road maintenance machines, as well as power and electronic devices, sensors, and vacuum toilets, which all are widely used in the railway and urban rail transport industry.

Freescale Semiconductor is a leading global designer and manufacturer of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2006 sales of US$6.4 billion.