VI-grade, a developer and supplier of simulation technologies for vehicle development, has released figures from its 2025 Zero Prototypes Summit event held on 13-15 May at VI-grade’s SimCenter technology hub in Udine, Italy. The annual event, now in its fourth year, attracted over 1,500 participants – nearly 300 attending in person and more than 1,200 joining via livestream – marking the largest participation at a Summit to date.
The event brought together representatives from 24 major automotive OEMs, 17 Tier 1 suppliers and engineering service providers, and 6 academic and research institutions, with support from 27 industry sponsors. VI-grade notes that this diverse and engaged level of industry participation highlights the Summit’s growing importance in uniting key stakeholders around a common vision for simulation-driven development.
An official video recap of the 2025 Zero Prototypes Summit is available HERE.
The event once again combined physical demonstrations, technical presentations, and networking opportunities, resulting in 989 hands-on demo sessions delivered across VI-grade’s software, driving simulators, and HiL solutions.
In parallel, 24 customer presentations highlighted real-world applications of VI-grade technology, featuring speakers from companies including Alpine, Applus+ IDIADA, Hyundai METC, Aston Martin Lagonda, Automobili Lamborghini, Brembo, Bridgestone EMIA, CATL, Horiba Mira, EDAG Group, Ferrari, Ford Werke, HBK nCode, Honda R&D, Multimatic, Pirelli & MegaRide, Porsche Engineering, S&VL & Subaru, Stellantis, Meccanica 42, T.R.E Team Rosberg Engineering, the Automotive Solution Center for Simulation (ASCS), and Volvo Cars.
The Summit also featured two product launches:
HexaRev, VI-grade’s most advanced motion system to date, designed to deliver smoother, more precise, and more immersive driver-in-the-loop experiences. With a novel mechanical design that eliminates belts, gears, and ball-screws, HexaRev offers an expanded and more efficient motion envelope, particularly during complex, multi-axis manoeuvres.
VI-DataDrive Cloud, a new Cloud-based simulation and data processing ecosystem, which the company says drastically reduces run times for high-fidelity vehicle models while supporting scalable and collaborative workflows. As a core pillar of VI-grade’s ‘Zero Prototype Lab’ vision, VI-DataDrive Cloud enables efficient engineering at scale through AI-powered digital twins.
“In times of change, the industry’s commitment to advancing simulation-first development is stronger than ever,” said Gabriele Ferrarotti, senior marketing director at VI-grade. “The success of this year’s Zero Prototypes Summit is not only reflected in record-breaking attendance, but also in the quality of engagement, the collaborative spirit on display, and the shared belief that virtual development is the way forward. We are proud to see the Summit evolving into a global benchmark showing how simulation-driven development can unite innovation, resilience, and collaboration on a worldwide scale.”
Building on the success of the flagship event in Italy, VI-grade will expand the Zero Prototypes event to other key regions:
On 12th June, the North American Zero Prototypes Day will take place at Multimatic’s SimCenter in Novi, Michigan.
On 12th September, VI-grade will host the Japanese edition of the Zero Prototypes Summit at the Shinagawa Center in Tokyo.
These regional events aim to extend the impact of the Summit and engage local communities in simulation-driven development.
