Ford Australia just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the You Yangs Proving Grounds with a bit of happy news: according to Wards Auto, even after domestic production has ended in 2017, the testing facility will remain open into the foreseeable future.
Ford Australia’s You Yang Proving Grounds is a 2,298-acre testing facility which employs some 300 engineers, technicians, and support staff. It first opened its doors in 1965, with one of its earliest tasks being a 70,000-mile endurance test of the Ford Falcon XP sedan.
The Proving Grounds has a full list of facilities including a high-speed track, high-speed ride and handling course, environmental exposure area, semi-anechoic chamber, test surfaces encompassing everything from cobblestones to corrugations, and more. Wards reports that Ford Australia most recently used the Proving Grounds to help with development testing of the Everest SUV.
“It’s important to celebrate this [50-year] milestone and highlight the continuing role the You Yangs Proving Ground will play, not only in its immediate community but also Ford Australia going forward,” said Ford Australia President Graeme Whickman.
“We’re very proud of the fact that the Ford team in Australia has been recognized as one of the ‘go-to guys’ for vehicle development.”
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