In May, General Motors marked a rare milestone for a foreign automaker in China, selling more than 10,000 of its new Buick Electra E7 in the first month.

While the nameplate is all-American, everything ​else about the car is Chinese — it was developed entirely at the technical centre GM runs with local partner SAIC

GM plans to export the car to South Korea and use its China-built ‌platform in the next iteration of the Cadillac Optiq, said a person with direct knowledge of the plans, which are reported here for the first time.

GM, Volkswagen and Renault are handing development to Chinese engineers, leveraging the country’s growing advantage in critical technology such as electric powertrains and advanced software.

South Korea’s Hyundai has struggled to ​sell cars in China, it is still investing in the country, planning to make China an R&D and export hub.

In Germany’s auto industry, the share of R&D conducted in China for both local and global markets has ​surged to 33% from 12% in two years, the German Chamber of Commerce in China said.