Toyota is Building a Miniature Nurburgring in Japan
Toyota is set to establish a new research and development hub as it invests more heavily into electrified vehicles.
According to a recent report, the new hub will be located in Aichi and will feature 11 different test tracks, which will be designed to resemble various driving conditions found in other parts of the world. For example, one track will be modeled after the famous Nurburgring in Germany with the goal of testing stability, braking, and other functions in harsh conditions. That track will span 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers) and will include windy, mountainous roads and altitude changes.
SEE ALSO: Toyota Wants to Produce Less Cars, More SUVs
Total investments towards the new facilities are around $2.8 billion, and they are expected to open partially as early as next year. Completion of all the sites won’t be until 2023 however, but it will house a staff of 3,200 to 3,300 employees with the goal of eventually expanding to 3,850 once everything is fully operational. Engineers and other employees will be reassigned from Toyota’s current headquarters to various locations on the new R&D site.
The new site will be used to test upcoming vehicles, but mainly electrified models, since Toyota aims to sell at least 5.5-million units annually by 2020.
[Source: Nikkei Asian Review]
Discuss this story on our Toyota Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation