China Builds World's Largest Ice-Snow Testing Facility for New Energy Vehicles

Beijing (ANTARA) - China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC) has begun construction of the world’s largest ice-snow testing base for intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China.

The facility, scheduled to open in 2028, will also be the world’s first to produce indoor snow for testing under simulated sleet conditions, according to a report by Science and Technology Daily on Sunday (10/5).

Intelligent connected NEVs are vehicles that integrate new energy technology with advanced connectivity, autonomous driving, and intelligent systems, transforming traditional cars into mobile smart terminals.

This new testing base represents a major leap forward in China’s capabilities for testing NEVs in cold weather.

Covering an area of about 1,000 mu (approximately 67 hectares), the base will be equipped with core functional zones, including calibration of NEV’s three-electric systems—batteries, motors, and electronic controls—as well as chassis systems, snow simulation testing for intelligent connected vehicles, and evaluation of flying cars.

“This project directly addresses industry barriers in extreme cold weather validation,” said Li Wei, vice president of CATARC.

“Once completed, the facility will break through testing cycle limitations, elevate industry standards, overcome core low-temperature technology challenges, and create a world-class validation platform. It will enhance China’s comprehensive strength and international position in automotive testing in extreme environments.”

Wen Jinlei, deputy mayor of Hulunbuir, the city hosting the testing base, stated that the facility will promote deep integration between the regional ice-snow economy and automotive technology innovation, as well as accelerate the exploration of an “ice-snow + technology” model.

The construction comes as China’s NEV industry continues to grow rapidly. According to the latest official data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), NEV production and sales in China reached 16.626 million units and 16.49 million units respectively in 2025, up 29 per cent and 28.2 per cent year-on-year (yoy).

However, NEV performance in cold weather remains a crucial challenge. The new testing base will enable precise control over sleet volume, ice friction coefficients, and other environmental factors, thereby overcoming limitations caused by uncontrollable real-world conditions and providing scientific and stable standards for vehicle and data system validation, the report stated.