When you drive your Toyota around town to pick up groceries, take the kids to soccer practice, or head on an epic adventure in the mountains, one of the last things on your mind is the reliability of your vehicle. That is exactly why you chose a Toyota for you or your family. They have demonstrated a commitment to excellence, and you can rely on your vehicle to perform every day as intended.
What we don’t consider, however, is the countless hours spent on test tracks, testing facilities, and perfecting the systems that seem to work so well all the time. So, let’s take a brief look at what goes into their R&D and how Toyota is expanding its U.S. operations.
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What Are The Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds (APG)?
You may or may not take Toyota’s legendary reliability for granted, but there’s an immense amount of work that goes into upholding that reputation.
As a show of Toyota’s commitment to this, they have recently invested $50 million in improvements to their Arizona testing facility.
In 1993, Toyota established the Arizona Proving Grounds (APG) in Wittman, Arizona, a facility located in a town of only 622 people. This rural town, located Northwest of Phoenix along U.S. Route 60 in Maricopa County, has found a long-term partner with Toyota Motor Company. Toyota has been testing both Toyota and Lexus vehicles at this location ever since.
Although Toyota owns the facility, it has been open to other manufacturers to rent out and test out their technology since 2021.
The facility includes over 11,650 acres and a total of 77 miles of testing surfaces. There is a high-speed oval track, as well as 50 miles of off-road and dirt tracks. Much of the current technology in the Toyota vehicles is tested and refined here, including much of the “Toyota Safety Sense”.
Projects To Be Completed
This project includes seven different test areas. Four out of the seven that are already completed include the Noise Pass-by testing, Oval Track, Ride and Handling, and the Loop Road A. Still on the horizon are the North Straight Track and the Off-road Park. Both projects are expected to be completed by this fall of 2025.
Off-Road Test Facility
The Off-road Park section will be specifically dedicated to the testing and refining of Toyota’s truck and SUV capabilities. Sections of rock, sand, and steep slopes are ideal for fine-tuning the Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems, especially on TRD trim levels.
What This Means For Arizona
This is fantastic news for the people of Arizona, according to Governor Katie Hobbs. In praising Toyota’s investment in the state, she said, “Again and again, Arizona is proving why businesses move, to stay in, invest in our state”.
Arizona State Representative Leo Biasiucci stated, “I’m proud that Toyota chose Arizona to call home!”. These glowing remarks from lawmakers are further evidence that Toyota’s presence creates a positive impact on their economy and communities.
What’s Next?
As a lifelong fan of all things Toyota, this investment prompted me to think of what could be next. I would love to see an area that is open to the public, whether it is an OHV area or a racetrack.
It would be incredible to test drive some of these platforms in off-road situations, because the typical test drive at the dealership is limited to a trip around the block.
Toyota Museum
Another idea that crossed my mind is how awesome it would be to have a Toyota-based Museum that would attract other Toyota enthusiasts to visit, similarly to the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Whatever your current opinion is on Toyota, the new platforms, or new engines, there is one thing we can agree on. Toyota has proven itself to be a very reputable and trustworthy company that contributes positively to the communities in which it operates.
Final Thoughts
This situation reminds me of how the “Big Three” carmakers (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) revived the industry and created countless opportunities for Detroit’s residents. It was a major factor in the region’s economic growth, providing meaningful jobs to many people.
I hope for continued success for Toyota and that they remain an asset and a beneficial partner to the people of Arizona. One thing seems certain: that with an investment of $50 million, Toyota plans on staying for a long time.
