Located adjacent to the main workshops at the Technical Center, the proving ground will allow most testing to proceed in a controlled environment.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) inaugurated its own proving ground today at the TME Technical Center, in Zaventem, Belgium. Zaventem Proving Ground took two years to build at a cost of €47 million. There are a variety of surfaces, including a 1.4 kilometer oval test track, 90-meter diameter skid pad, harshness road, noise road and a lane for brake tests. The roads will allow Toyota’s engineers in Europe to perform tests for ride comfort, road noise and vibration, vehicle strength, cornering, engine performance and braking.
The new Zaventem Proving Ground will play an important role for Toyota’s European vehicle development as part of the company’s plan to become Toyota’s global development center for the small and compact vehicle segments, the Japanese company said in a release. It’s hard to believe Toyota will move those jobs out of Japan where generations of Corolla and other small models have been developed.
The proving ground and its accompanying facilities cover a total of 65,000 m² at the Technical Center, which measures 187,000 m² in total. Toyota currently employs some 770 members of staff at the Technical Center, of which 430 work in Toyota’s research and development functions. To date, Toyota has invested € 167 million in the Technical Center, including the latest investment of € 47 million for the purchase and construction of the new proving ground.
“Thanks to the new proving ground, we will make use of our unique positioning and our facilities as a laboratory for new innovations in a faster and more efficient way, so that we can develop the right car for our European customers, right here, in the heart of Europe,” TME President and CEO, Didier Leroy.
Located adjacent to the main workshops and offices at the Technical Center, the proving ground will allow most vehicle testing to proceed on site in a controlled, secure environment.
Environmental impact for the construction of the proving ground was minimized. Some 98% of the demolished materials (approximately 36,000 tons) during the project were recycled on-site. Elements on the proving ground’s surroundings were chosen so that they can be integrated into the nature environment. A detailed noise study was performed to ensure no impact to the neighborhood.
