Mercedes-Benz Opens Advanced Light Testing Centre

Mercedes-Benz Inaugurates the Most Advanced Light Testing Centre in the Automotive Industry

Mercedes-Benz has once again raised the bar for innovation and precision in vehicle development with the inauguration of its new state-of-the-art light testing centre at the Global Proving Ground in Immendingen, Germany. This milestone facility underscores the brand’s relentless drive toward excellence in safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

A Groundbreaking Light Testing Facility

At 135 metres long and eight metres high, the new light testing centre is among the largest of its kind in the automotive industry. Its primary purpose is to test and optimise headlight systems under fully controlled, reproducible conditions, independent of environmental influences such as weather, daylight, or time of year.

Inside, a full country road is recreated using specially engineered asphalt designed to mimic the reflectivity of an aged road surface. Up to five cars can be tested simultaneously, simulating real-world scenarios such as oncoming traffic, tailing vehicles, or roadside reflectors. Even pedestrian dummies can be integrated to assess night-time safety functions.

With an investment of €10.5 million and a construction period of two years, Mercedes-Benz has created a facility that ensures its vehicles continue to meet the highest standards in lighting safety and innovation.

Automated Durability Testing: Robots on the Road

The advancements at Immendingen go far beyond lighting. The site also features the Heide durability circuit, a fully automated rough-road test where driving robots take control. Vehicles are pushed to their limits over cobblestones, potholes, and uneven roads, simulating up to 300,000 km of real-world driving in just 6,000 km of testing.

This automation allows for:

• 24/7 operation
• Unmatched precision in driving manoeuvres
• Reduced strain on human drivers
• Accelerated development timelines

The Heide circuit pays homage to the challenging Lüneburg Heath road test routes of the 1950s, now digitised and modernised for today’s automotive demands.

Digital Twins: Where Virtual Meets Reality

Mercedes-Benz is also pushing the boundaries of digital vehicle testing. Every inch of Immendingen is mapped with sub-millimetre precision, creating a digital twin of the proving ground. Vehicles are digitally simulated across thousands of variations before prototypes are even built, saving time, resources, and emissions.

For example, chassis tuning for new model series now begins digitally, with over 100 variations tested in simulations before the best options are physically trialled at Immendingen. This approach reflects Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to faster, more efficient, and sustainable development.

Immendingen: A Global Automotive Ecosystem

The proving ground is vast, covering 520 hectares with 86 km of test roads and 286 junctions. It replicates everything from urban intersections and mountain passes to highways, off-road trails, and even international road markings from the USA, China, and Japan.

With the capacity for 400 vehicles running simultaneously, Immendingen consolidates around 80% of real-world test drives onto one site, dramatically reducing international test operations and the carbon footprint of vehicle development.

Technology Meets Nature

Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz has also prioritised environmental responsibility at the site. Sheep and llamas are used to maintain natural grasslands and protect local biodiversity, while dedicated areas foster endangered species such as wild bees, amphibians, and grasshoppers. Several hundred hectares of reforestation and conservation efforts form part of the project, demonstrating a balance between cutting-edge technology and ecological stewardship.

A Decade of Innovation and €400 Million Investment

Since its groundbreaking ceremony ten years ago, Mercedes-Benz has invested €400 million into Immendingen, transforming a former military base into one of the world’s most advanced automotive testing environments. Today, the centre hosts 250 permanent employees, with an additional 2,100 specialists joining during peak weeks.

As Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, put it:

“At Immendingen, real and virtual testing merge seamlessly. By combining digital mapping, automated programmes, and state-of-the-art sensor technology, we’re making vehicle development more efficient, faster, and more sustainable than ever before.”

Final Thoughts

Mercedes-Benz’s new light testing centre is more than just a facility – it’s a symbol of the brand’s dedication to pushing boundaries in safety, sustainability, and innovation. Alongside the Heide durability circuit, digital twin simulations, and ecological conservation efforts, Immendingen is shaping the future of automotive development.

And for car enthusiasts in Dubai and beyond, it’s a reminder that every Mercedes-Benz on the road benefits from decades of research, investment, and passion for perfection.

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