Mercedes-Benz has completed construction of a crash test facility at its Sindelfingen site in Stuttgart, Germany, said to be the world's most advanced.
The new technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS) comprises a complete 90x90 pillarless test arena while the structural features include temperature control using the waste heat from the adjacent climatic wind tunnels.
Mercedes-Benz Cars Development body and safety director Thomas Merker said: "The new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) represents a continuation of this pioneering role.
"The world's most advanced crash test facility will enable us in future to carry out all crash tests on our own premises - not just more crash tests due to the growing product range, but also crash tests with future, new configurations."
The company said that the TFS will enable closer integration between research, development, planning and production at the Sindelfingen site in future.
Designed to allow collisions with different angles of impact, including junction collisions, the new facility also allows for crash tests with large commercial vehicles. It will feature rotating crash blocks with a different solid barrier on each side for a particular crash test configuration that is expected to reduce the set-up times while making crash testing even more efficient.
Individual components including restraint systems can also be tested with a sled test unit.
Additionally, the TFS will be used by the company to assess the Pre-Safe and driver assistance systems potential in the event of a crash.
Crash testing at the new facility is expected to begin in autumn 2016. The facility is being built with an investment of triple-digit millions of euros.
Image: Mercedes-Benz launches advanced crash test facility in Germany. Photo: courtsey of 2015 Daimler AG.
