A Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) is under construction at the Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc (HATCI) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. The facility, scheduled to be operational in autumn 2023, will augment the site’s existing testing capabilities with a field crash investigation lab, a high-voltage battery lab, a forensics lab, a 500m track and a vehicle dynamics area (VDA) pad. The investment in the facility investment totals over US$50 million.
The STIL will enable Hyundai engineers to analyse field data, understand the root cause of issues, and quickly take action to ensure vehicle safety. The STIL was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), based on a 2020 Consent Order. Hyundai increased its required investment by US$26 million. Approximately 150 jobs are planned to support the facility.
“With the added testing and investigation capabilities of the STIL, we will better understand customer vehicle issues, identify and address defects and analyse vehicle systems more efficiently with our own, on-site laboratory,” said Brian Latouf, chief safety officer at Hyundai Motor North America. “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.”
