Toyota upgrades Arizona Proving Ground for North America R&D

Toyota Motor North America says it has completed upgrades at the Arizona Proving Ground, adding a 5.5-mile oval and ADAS test routes. Read the details.

Toyota Motor North America marked the completion of new construction and upgraded capabilities at its Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG) near Wittmann on December 10, 2025, positioning the site as a stronger hub for both in-house development and broader industry testing.

At the center of the upgrade is a new 5.5-mile oval built inside the existing 10-mile track, using part of the original south straightaway. Toyota says the new oval is designed for mileage accumulation, stop-and-go testing, and a range of dynamics and higher-speed evaluations.

The company also reworked parts of the original layout. The north straightaway has been rebuilt into a dog bone straight course intended for various vehicle tests and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) evaluations. Alongside that, Toyota added a 1.75-mile coast-down surface aimed at measuring vehicle efficiency and fuel economy.

Off-road development is another focus. Toyota reports significant new off-road test facilities to expand the work area for body-on-frame and off-road-capable vehicles. A newly added noise pass-by area supports the measurement and evaluation of exterior vehicle sound emissions, which Toyota ties to meeting global regulatory requirements.

More day-to-day engineering surfaces are being refreshed as well. Toyota points to an improved 1.5-mile ride and handling track used for performance engineering, tire evaluation, and wet testing, and says repaving of the vehicle dynamics pad is planned.

Importantly, TAPG is no longer just an internal resource. Since 2021, the proving ground has been available for third-party rentals and long-term residencies, with Intertek Transportation Technologies managing and operating the site under the Arizona Mobility Test Center name. Toyota frames this open-to-industry model as a way to offset improvement costs while making the facility more capable for both Toyota teams and outside users.

The broader investment story sits behind the announcement, too. Toyota had previously said it was undertaking an upgrade program of more than $50 million at the site. With the company now celebrating completed construction and an expanded menu of testing offerings, the proving ground looks set to play a larger role as vehicle development needs evolve—especially where ADAS and durability work demand controlled, repeatable environments.