Chinese automotive giant Geely Auto Group has officially opened its Safety Centre in Hangzhou Bay, Zhejiang, China, establishing what is now the world’s largest automotive safety testing facility. The centre, which benefited from the safety expertise of Geely’s subsidiary Volvo, represents an investment of over 2 billion yuan (290 million USD) and sets five new Guinness World Records.
The 45,000 square meter facility expands traditional automotive safety concepts by incorporating comprehensive testing capabilities not just for physical crash protection, but also for emerging areas like cybersecurity, data privacy, and health protection. This reflects Geely’s “Comprehensive Safety 2.0” framework, which aims to “zero casualties, zero health hazards, zero property losses, and zero privacy leaks.”
Demonstrating the facility’s capabilities, Geely conducted a live crash test between two Lynk & Co 900 vehicles during the opening ceremony. The centre features multiple specialised laboratories, including assisted driving simulation verification labs, pedestrian protection testing, and vehicle network security testing.
The Safety Centre has set five world records, including the largest automotive safety laboratory (81,930.745 m²), the longest indoor crash test track (293.39 meters), the Largest altitude-climate adjustable wind tunnel facility for car testing (28,536.224 m²), Largest arbitrary-angle (0-180°) car crash test zone (12,709.293 m²), and the most diverse testing capabilities (27 types) available in an automaker’s safety facility.
According to Geely, the Safety Centre will be open to the entire automotive industry to elevate safety standards across the sector.
Editor’s comment
In 2002, Geely manufactured its first car. That same year, its founder, Li Shufu, articulated his ambition to acquire Volvo from Ford. In 2005, Geely Automobile exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show, yet Li Shufu’s initial visa application was denied during his interview. The German visa officer could scarcely have imagined that just five years later, this then relatively unknown Chinese automotive company would go on to acquire Volvo.
Under Geely’s ownership, Volvo flourished more successfully than it had under Ford. Recognising Volvo’s renowned expertise in safety, Li Shufu enlisted its assistance in designing what would become the world’s largest automotive safety test centre.
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