Hyundai Motor, Kia conduct rigorous off-road tests in desert to produce state-of-the-art vehicles

A Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV undergoes a safety test at Hyundai Motor Group's California Proving Ground in the Mojave Desert in California, in this file photo. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

MOJAVE, California — A super-spacious driving test center for Hyundai Motor and Kia stands as a backbone facility solidifying their brand power in the United States. Both automakers ensure their vehicles meet rigorous safety standards by launching them only after successfully undergoing testing at this facility.

The California Proving Ground (CPG) is situated in the isolated desert, covering a sizable land area of 17.7 million square meters. The Korean carmakers set up the facility here in 2005 to put their vehicles through harsher off-road driving tests.

Hyundai Motor and Kia are shifting their testing focus to electric vehicles (EVs) and SUVs, implementing a more rigorous set of driving tests specifically tailored for their eco-friendly vehicle lineup.

When this reporter test-drove an Electrified GV70 SUV, there was no noticeable in-vehicle vibration, even during sudden acceleration. The vehicle exhibited strong and comfortable cornering, giving the driver a sense of luxury coupled with a sporty feel.

In general, EVs equipped with high-energy-density batteries tend to be approximately 300 kilograms heavier than typical vehicles with internal combustion engines. The critical aspect of testing most EVs revolves around assessing their ability to withstand the additional weight pressure on their suspension, tires, and car body.

“The Mojave driving test center has expanded its harsher test programs targeting EVs and most eco-friendly vehicles in line with a rapid shift in the global auto paradigm,” said Kang Hee-jin, a senior researcher at the Hyundai America Technical Center.

Hyundai Motor and Kia vehicles undergo a road test in the middle of the Mojave Desert in California. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

According to Hyundai Motor Group, the Mojave Desert is the optimal place for testing EVs in the harshest conditions, as the average temperature hovers around 39 degrees Celsius and its surface temperature rises to 54 degrees in the peak summer season which falls in July and August.

The automakers are prioritizing the testing of their electric vehicles' heat management and cooling systems, particularly under the extreme and scorching weather conditions of the desert.

The facility is also equipped with a 10.3-kilometer-long oval track on which the carmakers test their vehicles at speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour. Engineers inspect every single detail, such as driving safety and road friction sound, while driving each vehicle around 48,280 kilometers.

Last year alone, engineers and technicians here conducted a 10,000-kilometer drive test for Hyundai Motor Group’s EV lineup for 10 weeks, not just in the desert, but in various U.S. states, such as Minnesota and Oregon, in a show of strong willingness to manufacture safety-first EVs in the world's largest economy.

The efforts are generating results, as shown by their steep sales growth here. According to the carmaker, the combined vehicle sales for Hyundai Motor and Kia in the U.S. topped 1.65 million in 2023, a record high. The strong sales growth enabled Hyundai Motor Group to rise to become the fourth-largest carmaker in the country last year.