Nardo Technical Center Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation

Nardo Technical Center turns 50, highlighting its unique role in Porsche’s engineering, EV testing, ADAS development and local talent support.

The Nardò Technical Center (NTC) in southern Italy marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating half a century as one of Europe's most distinctive proving grounds. Founded by Fiat in 1975, NTC quickly earned a reputation for pushing the limits of automotive engineering. Its iconic 12.6-kilometre high-speed ring remains the centerpiece—where, in 1993, a Porsche 928 GTS set a world record by covering more than 6,000 kilometres in 24 hours at an average speed exceeding 265 km/h.

When Porsche acquired the facility in 2012, a new chapter began. Extensive modernization—from digital infrastructure upgrades to a hybrid 5G network—has turned NTC into a vital link within the global Porsche Engineering ecosystem. Today, it serves not only traditional performance cars but also fully electric vehicles: the Taycan prototype, for example, confirmed the reliability of its battery system here by clocking over 3,400 kilometres non-stop in 24 hours.

Beyond endurance runs, NTC has grown into a hub for testing advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous technologies. Dynamic tracks and simulation platforms allow engineers to validate ADAS features, while robotic drivers simulate real-world conditions for the self-driving era ahead.

Equally important is NTC’s role in regional growth. The proving ground injects millions of euros each year into southern Italy’s economy and partners with local universities and technical schools. Students from the University of Salento and ITS institutes gain hands-on experience and career entry points, while initiatives like “Turbo for Talents” help nurture young potential far beyond the test tracks.

Recent expansion plans faced hurdles when local authorities suspended an agreed development program, prompting Porsche to officially cancel the project in March 2025. Still, NTC remains a cornerstone of Porsche Engineering’s strategy—a place where technology meets purpose and tomorrow’s mobility continues to take shape on historic asphalt in Apulia.