Toyota is investing $50 million to make a bold statement—actually, to prove it all when it comes to cars, especially trucks and SUVs. The Japanese automaker has begun building a brand-new network of roads, surfaces, and tracks designed to rigorously test its vehicles. All of this is taking place in the heart of the Arizona desert.
This significant investment underscores Toyota’s dedication to its Arizona Proving Grounds. Here, Toyotas face extreme heat tests, pushed to their limits to ensure that the next generation of vehicles—like the RAV4—can endure the rigorous wear and tear that customers demand over the years.
Arizona: A True Hot Spot for Vehicle Testing
And we’re not just making a play on words—Arizona really is a prime location for automotive testing. Numerous automakers have established large testing facilities in the state. The abundant sunshine makes it perfect for UV testing on parts such as interiors and headlights, while the dry climate offers ideal conditions to assess how components hold up in dusty environments. Plus, the intense heat puts cooling systems, air conditioners, and even rubber trim parts through their toughest endurance tests.
Ford, Stellantis, and Volkswagen all operate proving grounds near Phoenix, while GM once had a facility there before closing it, along with other recent shutdowns in the area. This context makes Toyota’s latest investment especially significant for the region.
At the heart of Toyota new projects is a 5.5-mile oval track designed to rack up miles on vehicles. This track plays a key role in durability testing, helps engineers identify and address noise, vibration, and harshness issues, and is used to “break in” vehicles for fuel economy and related evaluations.
Additionally, a new off-road park is set to be completed by the end of the year. This facility will allow Toyota to rigorously test its trucks and SUVs, refine its TRD off-road packages, and better understand the capabilities of its standard models.
The upgrades also include a new 1.7-mile straightaway designed for coast-down and other specialized tests, complementing the existing 1.3-mile loop. Additionally, a dedicated noise-measuring site will help ensure compliance with government sound regulations, while a 1.5-mile ride and handling track rounds out the latest additions to the facility.
12,000 Acres of Automotive Testing Excellence
All these new additions build on Toyota already expansive 12,000-acre Arizona Proving Grounds, which features a 10-mile oval track for high-speed testing, dedicated dynamics testing areas, and an extensive network of 60 miles of paved and dirt roads.
Since opening the site in 1993, Toyota has used it to develop over 50 Lexus and Toyota models for the North American market. In 2021, the company began offering the facility for rent to other automakers and businesses. Since then, the proving grounds have logged more than 203,000 hours testing 286 different vehicles.
The site is set to see even more testing activity in the coming years. Toyota has announced plans to build a new facility dedicated to advancing its award-winning driver assistance technology, though details on the timeline for this project have yet to be revealed.
