Toyota Upgrades European R&D Facility
Toyota, once the biggest car maker in the world, realized in order to keep up with the European, heck, the Koreans, they have to add more European flavor to their products. That’s what Koreans and Americans have been doing in recent years with great success.
So they announced an upgrade program for their European R&D facility, including their 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. Upcoming models will reveal if it was worth the money!
Toyota press release:
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.
Didier Leroy, TME President and CEO said: “The European automotive market is one of the most competitive in the world and our technical centre is already a key facility in Toyota’s global R&D organisation. Thanks to the new proving ground, we will make use of our unique positioning and our facilities as a laboratory for 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.”
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.
The environmental impact of the construction work was kept to a minimum. About 98 per cent of the excavation and building waste (approximately 36,000 tonnes) created during the project was recycled on-site. The development was integrated into its natural surroundings and a detailed noise study was conducted to ensure there is no disturbance caused to neighbours.
