Shanghai GM To Establish Vehicle Proving Ground

[paddyk]

11 Oct 2007 23:43 EDT PRESS RELEASE:Shanghai GM To Establish Vehicle Proving Ground

Following is a press release from GM (China) Investment Co., a unit of General Motors Corp. (GM):

Hefei, China - Shanghai General Motors signed a letter of intent today with the People's Government of Guangde County in eastern China's Anhui province to establish China's largest and most comprehensive vehicle proving ground.

The Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, which represents total investment of approximately RMB 1.6 billion, will cover an area of 5.6 square kilometers. It will satisfy the long-term product development and testing needs of Shanghai GM, GM's flagship manufacturing joint venture in China, as well as GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) automotive engineering and design joint venture.

The multifunctional facility will have 60 kilometers of testing roads that will be built according to local and global industry standards. It will include a high-speed bowl, a durability road system, a dynamics pad, low-coefficient straightaways, and a ride and handling track.

The proving ground will be capable of testing up to 140 vehicles simultaneously under a full range of real-world situations, and have an estimated annual testing distance of 20 million kilometers. Additional facilities at the proving ground, including testing labs and maintenance workshops, will cover an area of 20,000 square meters.

"With the Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, we will be able to continue developing products that are world class in every way - but faster and more cost-effectively than ever before," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. "This will help ensure that the GM family in China remains a leader in meeting the rapidly changing needs of vehicle buyers nationwide."

GM has a set of standards for its professional proving grounds. The automaker requires proving grounds to be built on level land in locations with suitable weather conditions for vehicle testing. There must be adequate infrastructure and sound drainage and flood control systems in place. GM also seeks venues that require minimal relocation. The Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, in Anhui's Guangde County, will be located about three and a half hours away from Shanghai by road.

Shanghai GM and PATAC are both 50-50 joint ventures between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), one of China's leading passenger car manufacturers. Shanghai GM produces, imports, sells and services vehicles under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Saab brands. Last year, it sold 413,367 vehicles. It has been China's leader in passenger car sales for the past two years. PATAC, which is based in Shanghai, provides automotive engineering services, including design, development, testing and validation of components and vehicles to GM, SAIC and their joint ventures.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

[plane]

paddyk - Welcome to GMI. You're off to a running start. Nice posts, good threads.

[redimpss5]

That's why they sold the one in AZ.

[pinchefrijolero]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

That's why they sold the one in AZ.

Do you really think they are going to ship cars all the way to China to the proving grounds for testing for the US. GM cars produced in China will utilize the China PG.

[samkung]

What a happy moment

[chewwtoy]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

That's why they sold the one in AZ.

They are MOVING the Arizona PG (DPG) to a differnt location (Yuma I believe). Most of the work of the DPG will now be done between the Milford Proving Grounds and the Capuan Proving Grounds in Mexico.

[chinamonty]

Most manufacturers (including the US ones) ship cars to either South Africa or Australia for testing so I dont see any reason why they wouldnt send cars to China if they see some advantage in doing so.