Ford to invest $1.8 billion in China research

BEIJING — Ford Motor Co. says it plans to spend $1.8 billion to expand its ability to develop technologies for China's growing auto market.

The American automaker said Monday it will expand a research and development center in the eastern city of Nanjing and work on autonomous driving and other features.

Global automakers are stepping up investment in China, the biggest auto market by number of vehicles sold, despite an abrupt slowdown in sales growth.