Stellantis has unveiled a significant $29.5m investment in Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology at its research and technical centre in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The MGP system features belts suspended by air cushions to simulate wheel movement, and a central belt that replicates road travel beneath the vehicle.

The advanced aero-acoustic wind tunnel simulates real-world conditions, allowing vehicles to remain stationary during testing for more accurate aerodynamic enhancements.

This upgrade to the company's wind tunnel is expected to enable precise measurement and reduction of airflow resistance from wheels and tyres, a key factor in real-world aerodynamic drag.

The new facility introduces essential automation capabilities, allowing rapid adjustments to wheelbase and track testing that traditionally took up to two hours, the company said.

The company expects these enhancements to significantly improve efficiency, offering customers extended electric vehicle (EV) ranges and potentially smaller battery sizes due to weight savings.

Stellantis noted that its investment in MGP technology will aid various brands within the company, enhancing aerodynamics for vehicles globally, irrespective of their power source.

The Auburn Hills facility will accommodate larger vehicle platforms, including those based on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms, complementing other MGP-equipped sites that focus on smaller vehicles.

This technology is integral to Stellantis' Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, which aims for 50% of its US sales and 100% of its European sales to be battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030.

The wind tunnel, capable of generating wind speeds over 160mph (257.5kmph), has been operational since 2002 and is part of an estimated $85m commitment outlined in the 2019 UAW contract.

The investment also includes a new annex for staging test vehicles and an outbuilding to support the MGP system, which utilises high-pressure compressed air for wheel and centre belts at speeds up to 140mph (225.3 kmph), all controlled by electromechanical actuators.