Fiat Chrysler boosts autonomous vehicle testing in Michigan
Company says it's invested more than $30 million into the project
Fiat Chrysler says it's invested more than $30 million at its Chelsea Proving Grounds in southeastern Michigan to boost development and testing of autonomous vehicles and advanced safety technologies.
The company said in a statement Wednesday that a new facility at the proving grounds begins testing this month and incudes an autonomous highway-speed track, a safety-feature evaluation area and a command centre.
The Chelsea Proving Grounds is located about 80 km west of Detroit.
The facility will allow FCA to evaluate vehicles using test protocols from third parties, such the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The highway-speed track offers the capability to test autonomous vehicle systems in varied environments, including interstate-style exit and entrance ramps.
The proving grounds opened in 1954 and covers nearly 1,619 hectares.