The new technologies that will enhance cleaner, safer, more intelligent and more connected vehicles will require new levels of quality and reliability. Achieving those high standards is a major issue for the industry and will require rigorous and prolonged testing.

From sun to snow

Sweden is among the world's leading automotive testing nations. Test facilities throughout the country offer the full range of resources, from an artificial sun at SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden in Borås, to advanced simulators at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI's) state-of-the-art labs in Göteborg, to cold-weather endurance testing on the frozen lakes of the far north.

A number of major automotive players have already established their own tailor-made testing facilities in Sweden, but independent testing companies with highly experienced engineers working in the strictest confidence can also be contracted to conduct tests on a freelance basis.

Unmatched facilities

Crash testing; track testing; winter testing; electromagnetic compability testing. Sweden offers automotive manufacturers and suppliers unmatched infrastructure and facilities for the testing of vehicles. Sweden hosts test sites for the EU Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure Systems (CVIS) and Safespot projects, among others.

Chosen by all

All European OEM's plus several from Asia, choose Sweden for their winter testing. Together with guaranteed arctic temperatures, the north of Sweden offers decades of testing experience in a sparsely populated area with few noise restrictions, and empty roads ideal for sensitive testing assignments away from prying eyes. It is no surprise that the likes of BMW, Volvo, Bosch and others have invested heavily in their own facilities here.

Besides the well-established cold-weather stress tests, drivability tests, mileage collection and comfort tests, northern Sweden now also offers a full infrastructure for testing of electric vehicles at sub-zero temperatures.