Toyota Opens Proving Grounds to Other OEMs, Suppliers

The Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds (TAPG), the automaker’s proprietary U.S. vehicle development and testing facility, will become available to the broader industry as a vehicle testing resource as it officially launches the Arizona Mobility Test Center (AMTC) at TAPG.

Toyota has chosen Intertek Transportation Technologies to operate the facility and provide tenant management and related services under a new multi-year agreement, while Toyota maintains ownership and continues its testing activities at TAPG.

“TAPG has world-class resources for making ever-better vehicles, and by opening it up to the whole industry for long-term engagements, we believe it can make an even greater impact on advancing mobility for all,” says Randy Stephens, group vice president-Product Performance Engineering at Toyota Motor North America R&D.

“This is also an opportunity to create new value with a capital-intensive asset, opening a revenue stream that can be used for continuous improvements on the facility that will further benefit Toyota and tenants,” Stephens says in a news release.

Intertek provides the transportation industry with services covering all aspects of the needs at AMTC, including staffing, scheduling, maintenance, security and overseeing all testing operations at the site. It will also market AMTC to attract tenants and manage the leasing business.

“It’s an honor to partner with Toyota to oversee the daily operations of AMTC,” says Gavin Campbell, president of Intertek Transportation Technologies. “The automotive industry is going through a revolutionary change right now, and we look forward to assisting all OEMs and Tier Suppliers who are at the forefront of this automotive development by using our expertise in site management and test operations to help get their products to market with precision, pace and passion.”

A portion of AMTC will include an area of land for tenants to construct their own office and garage spaces as part of their facility usage. Toyota is also constructing its own new amenities at AMTC, including expanded off-road test facilities and a noise pass-by evaluation course.

The Arizona Mobility Test Center at TAPG is located in the Sonoran Desert near Wittmann, AZ, a town about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Phoenix. The facility covers approximately 11,650 acres (4,715 ha) and has 77 miles (124 km) of testing surfaces with 25 miles (40 km) of paved roads, 52 miles (84 km) of dirt tracks and a high-speed oval.

TAPG has been home to testing nearly 50 Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles for the North American market since it was established in 1993.

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