Toyota Motor Europe (TME) inaugurated its own proving ground at the TME Technical Centre, in Zaventem, Belgium.
The state-of-the-art Zaventem Proving Ground, aimed at strengthening Toyota’s European vehicle research and development, took two-and-a-half years to complete.
The latest expansion represents an investment of €47 million (£42 million) and demonstrates Toyota’s long-term commitment to Europe. The new proving ground will play a vital role in Toyota’s strategy for developing new models for the European small and compact car segments.
Together with its accompanying facilities it covers an area of 65,000m² at the technical centre, which measures 187,000m² in total. Toyota employs 770 staff at the technical centre itself, of which 430 are engaged in research and development functions. To date, Toyota has invested €167 million (£149 million) in the Zaventem facility, including the latest investment of €47 million (£42 million) for the purchase and construction of the new proving ground.
As well as a 1.4 kilometre (0.8-mile) oval test track, the multi-purpose proving ground also features a 90-metre diameter skid pad, test roads to monitor noise and harshness and a lane for brake tests.
The facilities allow Toyota’s engineers to perform a wide variety of tests such as ride comfort, road noise and vibration, vehicle durability, cornering, engine performance and brake performance. Situated close to the main workshops and offices at the technical centre, the proving ground will handle most of the vehicle testing performed on site.
