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Chelsea Proving Grounds Completes It’s 25,000th Crash Test:

Crashing Cars To Advance Safety...

Just south of the town of Chelsea, Michigan, surrounded by agricultural area, is a 3,850-acre operation where the Chrysler Group of the newly formed automaker Stellantis, has developed its upcoming portfolio of new vehicles since 1954. The Chelsea Proving Grounds operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as it conducts 85% of the group’s vehicle testing scenarios including impact barrier tests; safety sled; emissions build and testing; emissions development and certification; powertrain calibration; performance and fuel economy; corrosion tests; and brake systems development and certification.

Chelsea Proving Grounds. (MoparInsiders).

This past week, the Chelsea Proving Grounds staff which is made up of about 400 employees celebrated the completion of its 25,000th crash test since 1962. The first test conducted, consisted of then Chrysler Corporation engineers running a vehicle down a 32% grade and crashing into another vehicle to understand vehicle impacts. Surprisingly, the company ran only seven tests during that year.

1982 Dodge Rampage frontal barrier crash test. (Stellantis).

In 1966, the Chelsea Proving Grounds then assembled a large barrier to test front-end collisions at speed. It was in 1974, that the proving grounds opened its own indoor facility to conduct a number of crash test scenarios. The first test done inside the new complex was 877th vehicle crash-tested at the proving grounds. Fast forward, 47 years later, the Chelsea Proving Ground team completed its 25,000th test in late April of this year. 

2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SLT frontal barrier crash test at 30 mph. (Stellantis).

In the spring of 2013, Chrysler Group hired MESSRING Systembau GmbH based in Munich, Germany to comprehensively modernize and upgrade the central testing facility. The upgrade helped the Chelsea Proving Group engineering and technicians to develop nearly 70 vehicles earning five-star vehicle ratings under the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). 

2006 Dodge Charger R/T doing 40 mph left offset barrier crash test. (Stellantis).

It was announced in 2018, that the Chelsea Proving Grounds would be investing $30 million into the facility to develop new testing of autonomous vehicles and advanced safety technology. The new facility joins the crash test operations to develop safer vehicles for the future.

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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Chelsea Proving Grounds Completes It’s 25,000th Crash Test:​

Crashing Cars To Advance Safety...​

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Just south of the town of Chelsea, Michigan, surrounded by agricultural area, is a 3,850-acre operation where the Chrysler Group of the newly formed automaker Stellantis, has developed its upcoming portfolio of new vehicles since 1954. The Chelsea Proving Grounds operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as it conducts 85% of the group’s vehicle testing scenarios including impact barrier tests; safety sled; emissions build and testing; emissions development and certification; powertrain calibration; performance and fuel economy; corrosion tests; and brake systems development and certification.

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