Stepping into the future of vehicle development, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new Light Testing Center at the Immendingen proving ground in Germany. The facility is being called the most advanced of its kind in Europe, and the brand’s focus is clear: combine technology, simulation, and endurance testing under one roof. This new investment builds on the Global Proving Ground Immendingen, already known as one of the most diverse testing environments in the automotive world.
A Complete Road in a Controlled Space
The Light Testing Center stretches 443 feet in length and stands 26 feet tall, essentially housing an entire country road indoors. The surface itself has been engineered to mimic the reflective qualities of aged asphalt, offering conditions that mirror real-world driving scenarios. Up to five vehicles can be tested at once, with simulated oncoming traffic and flexible integration of pedestrian dummies. In this space, light systems can be evaluated with complete consistency, unaffected by time of day or weather.
Automation Takes Over the Rough Road
While lighting tests push visibility to the limit, durability testing happens nearby on the Heide rough-road circuit. Robots, not human drivers, take control of vehicles on this punishing track. The benefit is twofold: increased precision in repeated maneuvers and continuous operation without putting drivers through extreme strain. Each vehicle endures potholes, cobblestones, and bumps equivalent to hundreds of thousands of real-world miles. A single kilometer on this circuit equals 150 kilometers of harsh driving on public roads.
Digital Twins: From Simulation to Reality
Mercedes-Benz has embraced digitization across the proving ground. Every test module, including the Heide circuit, is digitally mapped to sub-millimeter accuracy. Vehicles and their loads are mirrored in these simulations, allowing engineers to run thousands of digital miles before a prototype even touches the track. This digital-first approach reduces development time and lowers the environmental impact of testing, while still delivering reliable results once physical testing begins.
The Scale of Immendingen
Covering more than 1,285 acres with 53 miles of track, Immendingen has become a central hub for global testing. Since operations began in 2015, over 30,000 vehicles have logged more than 62 million miles here. The site includes city intersections, mountain passes, highways, and off-road sections, offering nearly every environment a vehicle might encounter, apart from extreme cold or desert heat. Even artificial sunlight and simulated rain can be produced on site.
Sustainability at the Proving Ground
Beyond technology, the Immendingen site also doubles as a conservation area. Sheep maintain grasslands by grazing, while llamas protect the herd from predators. Rare species of plants and animals find refuge within its grounds, thanks to carefully designed ecological measures. For Mercedes-Benz, sustainability is as integral to the facility as durability testing and light simulations.
Investment and Workforce
The company has invested over 400 million euros into the proving ground since breaking ground in 2015. About 250 employees work full time at the site, with capacity for over 2,000 visiting staff during intensive testing periods. Equipped with more than 100 charging stations, a fire department, and LTE-based safety systems, Immendingen functions as a self-sufficient environment for vehicle development.
Summary
With the addition of the Light Testing Center, Mercedes-Benz positions Immendingen as a proving ground that merges the real with the virtual. The combination of endurance testing, cutting-edge light simulations, and ecological responsibility reflects a shift toward efficient and sustainable vehicle development. This facility is less about spectacle and more about precision, pushing automotive testing into a new era.
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Source: Mercedes-Benz
