Scania opens new vehicle proving ground in Sweden

Scania has inaugurated a new R&D proving ground in Södertälje, Sweden, about 35 km (20 miles) from Stockholm.

The new 85-hectare facility represents an investment of about SEK 975 million (approx. $98.5 million).

Aerial view of the new Scania proving ground in Södertälje, Sweden (Photo: Scania)

The new site will be used to develop, test and validate future transport solutions under controlled, realistic conditions.

Features includes 13 km of paved roads and 4 km of gravel roads. Testing capabilities supports electrification, autonomous systems, safety and vehicle dynamics.

Additionally, there are areas for testing advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane support and blind-spot warning. For autonomous transport, engineers can build realistic traffic scenarios which can gradually made more complex.

“The transformation of transport requires us to continuously strengthen the way we develop and validate new technologies,” said Christian Levin, president and CEO, Traton Group and Scania.

“This investment is about building the capabilities we need for the future while ensuring that the solutions we bring to our customers have the safety, quality and performance they expect.”

The proving ground allows testing that previously required external facilities. Large, purpose-built surfaces enable vehicle dynamics testing, while dedicated areas can be configured for active safety and autonomous-driving scenarios with different levels of complexity.

“New technology only creates value when it performs in the real world. The R&D proving ground gives our engineers greater possibilities to test, learn and validate solutions under demanding conditions. It strengthens our ability to turn innovation into solutions that deliver real value for our customers,” said Sara Forsberg, CTO and head of Brand Identity Development, Scania.