Tenneco Launches Global Innovation Center in Kunshan

Shanghai, September 3, 2026 — Tenneco LLC ("Tenneco"), a leading global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of technologies for original equipment and aftermarket customers across the mobility and industrial markets, today officially launched its Global Innovation Center in Kunshan, China. One of Tenneco's most significant engineering investments in the region, the center advances the mission-critical, precision-engineered technologies its customers rely on in the most demanding applications and reflects the company's long-term strategy to grow in China and innovate for global markets.

Strengthening local innovation and growth in China

"Our purpose is to be the best and most trusted partner to our customers, and you earn that by solving the hard problems they bring us, program after program. That's what this center is built to do: put our best engineering talent closer to customers in China and turn what they create here into solutions for the world. It reflects our deep, long-term commitment to growing in China," said Tenneco CEO Jim Voss.

The center consolidates engineering resources that were previously spread across multiple sites, uniting product development, engineering validation, and system integration under one roof. That gives Tenneco a single, connected environment to develop and prove new technology, and to respond more quickly as customer needs evolve.

Home to more than 200 engineers and technical professionals, more than 30 test benches, and certified laboratories, the center’s capabilities span materials research, simulation and analysis, testing, and validation. With engine-component and aftertreatment teams working side by side, Tenneco can shorten development cycles and improve system-level performance for customers. The center also deepens Tenneco's long-term partnership with the Kunshan and Suzhou governments, whose support has helped the company expand its engineering presence in the region.

From "In China, for China" to "In China, for the World"

In recent years, the Kunshan engineering team has led and supported multiple global development programs. The team has filed more than 400 patents, including 15 globally granted patents, and has helped develop technologies for hybrid vehicles, China VII commercial vehicle applications, and power generation systems for data centers.

"The China team is playing an increasingly important role in Tenneco's global innovation network and our growth strategy," said Sean Li, President of Tenneco Asia Pacific. "Through this platform, we'll pair global expertise with local innovation, bring new technologies to market faster, and serve our customers better at home and abroad."

The center also positions Tenneco to support Chinese automakers as they expand overseas, combining China's development speed with Tenneco's global engineering standards and testing experience.

Innovations across Clean Air, Powertrain, and Ignition

The Global Innovation Center showcases precision-engineered technologies from across Tenneco's Clean Air, Powertrain, and Ignition businesses, built for the applications where performance matters most. For passenger vehicles, Tenneco's advanced pre-chamber spark plug technology improves combustion efficiency in high-performance engines and is expected to reach large-scale production in China as early as 2027. The center also demonstrated a compact exhaust solution for hybrid vehicles that combines key exhaust and NVH functions in a single module, freeing up chassis space and giving vehicle makers more design flexibility.

In commercial vehicle and off-highway markets, Tenneco continues to advance noise reduction and emissions control. Its next-generation high-performance silencing technology delivers full-spectrum noise reduction in a more compact package, and the engineering team has developed solutions that improve nitrogen oxide (NOx) control during diesel cold-start and low-load operation. These technologies are already deployed with customers, helping them meet increasingly stringent emissions requirements.

The Global Innovation Center reflects the strength of Tenneco's engineering and the depth of its commitment to China. Built on the talent and capability Tenneco has established in the region, it anchors the company's long-term growth in one of the world's most important mobility markets.

About Tenneco
Tenneco is a leading global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of mission-critical, precision-engineered technologies for original equipment and aftermarket customers across the mobility and industrial markets. Through our Clean Air, Powertrain, Performance Solutions, and DRiV groups, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket. Visit Tenneco.com to learn more.

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