Toyota Motor North America has announced the completion of upgrades and new construction at its Arizona Proving Ground in Wittmann, Arizona. The improvements aim to strengthen Toyota’s research and development capabilities in North America and expand offerings for third-party companies interested in vehicle testing.
Monte Kaehr, group vice president of Vehicle Development Engineering at Toyota Motor North America’s Research and Development, said, “We are proud to strengthen the offerings at our world-class facility in Arizona, not only for Toyota, but for any company that has use for these amenities.”
The project includes a new 5.5-mile oval track built inside the existing 10-mile oval. This addition is intended for vehicle mileage accumulation, stop-and-go testing, and various dynamic and high-speed evaluations. The north straightaway of the original oval has been reconstructed into a dog bone straight course for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) testing. It also features a 1.75-mile coast down surface to evaluate vehicle efficiency and fuel economy.
Additional upgrades include expanded off-road test facilities designed for body-on-frame vehicles and those with off-road capabilities. A new noise pass-by area will help test sound emissions to comply with global regulations. Other improvements consist of an enhanced 1.5-mile ride and handling track used for engineering performance tests, tire evaluation, wet testing, and plans to repave the vehicle dynamics pad.
Stefan Young, vice president at Toyota Motor North America’s Research and Development, stated: “TAPG is an important asset for our North American R&D team, and we are planning continued investment here as vehicle development needs change and evolve for new technology. Opening our facility to the industry has allowed us to offset the cost of improvements and make an ever-better facility both for ourselves and for the automotive and mobility industry overall. These improvements are also important to attract other companies to the region.”
Since 2021, Toyota’s Arizona Proving Ground has been available for rental or long-term residencies by third parties seeking closed-course testing resources. Intertek Transportation Technologies operates the site under the name Arizona Mobility Test Center.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs commented on the announcement: “Arizona is driving innovation that delivers economic opportunity and growth to families and businesses across our state. The revitalization of Toyota’s Arizona Proving Ground is further proof that Arizona is leading the way in auto technology testing and development.”
Leo Biasiucci, Arizona State House Representative and Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, added: “I thank Toyota for its continued investment in our state. We value this ongoing commitment to bring innovation and technology development to Arizona.”
The facility spans about 11,650 acres near Wittmann—roughly 60 miles northwest of Phoenix—and offers 77 miles of testing surfaces including paved roads, dirt tracks, off-road areas, as well as a 5.5-mile oval track. Since opening in 1993, it has hosted testing for more than 50 Toyota and Lexus vehicles destined for North American markets.
Toyota employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who contribute to designing, engineering, and assembling vehicles at its manufacturing plants across the continent. In addition to automotive assembly operations—including battery production started in North Carolina in 2025—Toyota continues research into next-generation mobility solutions through its R&D groups based primarily in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
For more information about Toyota’s activities or recent news updates visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
