General Motors marks a century of innovation at its historic Milford Proving Ground, the world’s oldest dedicated vehicle testing facility. Since opening on September 25, 1924, this vast 4,000-acre site in suburban Michigan has played a pivotal role in testing and developing every GM vehicle, from the iconic Chevrolet Corvette to the cutting-edge autonomous Chevy Bolt.
Originally spanning 1,125 acres with just two buildings and 5.5 miles of test roads, Milford now boasts 150 miles of roadways and more than 150 buildings. Over the last century, engineers at Milford have driven over 15 million testing miles per year, simulating a wide range of driving conditions, from extreme temperatures to high altitudes.
Key Innovations at Milford
Milford has been at the forefront of automotive advancements. From inventing guardrails in the 1930s to pioneering the first mass-produced automatic transmission, the Hydra-Matic, GM’s breakthroughs have often been tested and refined here. In the 1930s, GM began conducting the world’s first rollover tests and later, in 1953, the iconic Corvette was born, with every model since undergoing rigorous testing at Milford.
Milford’s testing facility is also home to “Black Lake,” a massive 67-acre test pad for dynamic vehicle trials, and the advanced crash lab with 140,000 pounds of reinforced concrete for stability in vehicle crash testing.
A Legacy of Safety and Technology
Safety innovations like the rear seat reminder, developed at Milford, have saved countless lives. The site also played a role in developing Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver assistance technology, first launched in 2018 and continuously tested at Milford.
Looking forward, GM continues to innovate at Milford, with plans to expand its Super Cruise network to cover 750,000 miles of roads across North America by 2025, ensuring the facility remains a cornerstone of GM’s automotive future.
For 100 years, Milford has been a proving ground for progress, setting the pace for the next generation of automotive excellence.
