Hyundai invests over US$50-M on new safety test and investigation lab

Hyundai announced on Wednesday, February 10, the establishment of a Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) in Michigan. According to the South Korean automotive brand, the new STIL facility at Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) will further improve their existing safety testing and analysis.

“We are proud to expand upon our ‘safety first’ commitment by developing a new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL). With the added testing and investigation capabilities of the STIL, we will better understand customer vehicle issues, identify and address defects and analyze vehicle systems more efficiently with our own, on-site laboratory. The access to real-world data will help accelerate our pursuit of a best-in-class safety office and enable effective safety technologies to help protect our customers and their families,” said Hyundai Motor North America Chief Safety Officer Brian Latouf.

The new STIL facility will feature a field crash investigation lab, high- voltage battery lab, forensics lab, a 500-meter track, and a Vehicle Dynamics Area (VDA) pad. Hyundai invested over US$50 million in this new laboratory which will focus on enhancing Hyundai’s safety commitment in identifying vehicle field issues, preventing crashes, and keeping passengers safe.

“Hyundai America Technical Center (HATCI) is excited to collaborate with Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) on a state-of-the-art safety test laboratory at our Michigan R&D campus. Having on-site access to perform real-world evaluations further enhances our safety commitment to our customers and emphasizes our commitment to the region,” said HATCI President John Robb.

The new STIL facility was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) based on a 2020 Consent Order. It’s scheduled to start operations in the fall (from September to December) of 2023.

Photo from Hyundai

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