"These are key strategic moves that are completing the final separation from Daimler," Pietro Gorlier, CEO of the Mopar parts brand, said in an interview before the announcement.

Chrysler, of suburban Detroit, previously was owned by Daimler AG, and Daimler has continued to provide some logistics services to Chrysler, Gorlier said.

The China center will distribute 35,000 parts to more than 130 dealers in China and to third-party distributors and partners throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Chrysler said in a statement.

Fiat S.p.A. obtained control of Chrysler as part of the U.S. automaker's bankruptcy reorganization in 2009. Fiat also will use the center.