Visteon has expanded its worldwide network of high-tech lab facilities in Mexico and India by opening its first automotive technology testing facility in Bulgaria.
Deputy Mayor of Finance and Healthcare of Sofia Municipality Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Innovation and Growth Milena Stoycheva, US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten, and President and CEO of Visteon Sachin Lawande attended the ceremony.
“The automotive industry is transforming rapidly, and much of this transformation is driven by electronics and software. As the complexity and sophistication of these electronic systems continue to rise, so do the expectations of our customers on quality and reliability,” said Sachin Lawande, Visteon President and CEO. “Our ambition is to deliver the best automotive electronics products in the industry with uncompromising quality, and this new lab in Sofia will play a big role in helping us achieve our goals with customers in Europe.”
The new facility is the result of a substantial over $10 million investment. The lab, which employs over 70 highly qualified engineers, thoroughly examines technology items created for worldwide automakers by Visteon’s European engineering centres.
The testing protocols used in the lab cover every stage of the product lifecycle, from the first stages of design to mass production. Leading European manufacturers put their infotainment and instrument panel products through a battery of tests that simulate a wide range of harsh conditions and real-world disruptions both inside and outside the car. Maximising the technology’s dependability and safety is the goal.
Visteon’s team of electronics, electrical, and mechanical engineers will conduct a comprehensive suite of durability tests to assess the technology’s ability to withstand climatic and temperature extremes ranging from -40degC to 85degC, vibrations and shocks across different temperatures, frequencies, and acceleration levels, particle and water ingress, and various disruptions to a vehicle’s signal and power lines.
Notably, the lab is the only facility in Bulgaria equipped to perform electromagnetic compatibility and immunity testing. All testing procedures adhere to internationally recognized standards such as CISPR 25, ISO 11452-2, ISO 11452-4, and ISO 11452-9.
The lab uses state-of-the-art equipment specifically sourced from Germany, Austria, the USA, and Asia. This equipment is fully compliant with the rigorous standards established by international standardization organizations ISO and IEC.
The new testing lab adds to the extensive portfolio of services offered by Visteon’s Sofia technology centre and reinforces the critical role of the Bulgarian engineering hub as the backbone of Visteon’s European operations.
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