(autoinsidernews) - Earlier this week, Volkswagen opened its new cold and climate test center, which is located at its Wolfsburg, Germany plant. Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand, opened the center, with a total area of 5400 square meters, in the presence of 150 invited guests including the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder, and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Ferdinand PiГ"ch, reports Trend.
The new cold and climate test center will significantly reduce development times for our new models because we will be able to conduct a much wider range of tests in our labs, said Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand. Our engineers will be able to analyse and optimize development vehicles faster. This will save time and money and make for even higher quality.
The new center, which cost about 30 million euros ($38.3 million), is designed to simulate more extreme weather conditions, including temperatures ranging from -40 to +150 degrees Celsius (-40 to 302 degrees F), direct solar radiation, up to 95 percent humidity, high altitudes, and extreme wind gusts.