Dimensional changes after testing can be difficult to quantify using traditional measurement methods alone. This webinar will explore how 3D scanning provides clear visual evidence of warpage, deformation, shrinkage and dimensional variation before and after environmental, durability, impact and load testing.

Learn how full-part scanning, color map overlays, scan-to-CAD comparison and GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) analysis help engineering teams move beyond point measurements to gain a complete understanding of part performance. Through real-world examples, attendees will see how 3D scanning identifies dimensional changes that may be missed with manual inspection and supports faster validation, stronger engineering decisions and more productive discussions.

The session, hosted by Aaron Zdroik, interiors department manager at Element Materials Technology, will also cover best practices for complex geometry measurement, fixture verification, portable on-site scanning and reporting methods that turn test results into actionable insights.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of when to incorporate 3D scanning into a test program, how it complements traditional testing, and how visual dimensional data can reduce uncertainty, streamline root cause investigations and improve confidence in validation results.

Five key learning points for delegates:

• How 3D scanning reveals dimensional changes before and after testing
• When to use scan-to-CAD comparison and GD&T analysis
• How color map overlays identify warpage and deformation
• Why full-part scanning provides better insights than manual measurements
• How visual dimensional data improves validation and engineering decisions

REGISTER NOW

Listen in and take the opportunity to ask questions along the way, on August 5, 2026, at 4:00pm BST / 5:00pm CEST / 11:00am EST.

Register for the webinar here

Naturally, visitors and exhibitors felt that it was beneficial to be able to meet new and old faces, with the exhibition being a unique opportunity to do so. Exhibitors in the AI realm, and those with an AI application on display, noticeably captured visitors’ attention. Read ATTI‘s Day 1 roundup here and our Day 2 roundup here.

The MOVEdot workshop: AI agents in automotive testing, which was run by the company’s co-founder and CTO Bruno Finco, also proved incredibly popular. In a first for the workshop organizers, it was so busy that Finco ran it twice in one afternoon. 

On Day 1, Patrick Stiller, AI lead at tracetronic, presented in the Innovation Showcase – A journey to agentic testing – to a packed audience. Another example of the impact AI is having on the testing community. 

The content truly was the icing on the cake for visitors, with the AI and data-focused presentations in the Innovation Showcase receiving strong audience engagement. The majority of the talks and content streams in the ATTI Awards Forum and Innovation Showcase were well received and standing-room-only. 

With Euro 7 and Euro NCAP 2026 coming into place this year, it was clear to see that developers currently feel they are fighting an uphill battle, with more than ever on their plates. The frameworks were the topic of two panel discussions and raised some important questions. 

ATTI hosted an onstage interview with Emma Deutsch, tech director, Nissan Technical Centre Europe, and Guy Mathot, ADAS and connectivity software validation fleet supervisor at Ford. Richard Schram, Euro NCAP tech director, was unable to join ATTI onstage due to an unforeseen issue. 

Mathot candidly said during the discussion, “The additional amount of testing is a burden. With the extra scenarios and the introduction of extended types of testing, everything has to move faster. With the introduction of the robustness testing there is still a bit of a question mark as to how it’s integrated.”  

He revealed that the OEM has had adapt its tools and methods, invest in additional equipment – faster targets for example – and new tracks for high-speed crossings. 

In addressing the issue, he noted the importance of simulation, which was echoed by Deutsch, who commented, “You’ve got to go down the simulation route because, let’s be honest, if you don’t you’re dead. We’ve had to invest in that and train our engineers. We’ve also had to double down on our marketability team – it’s about getting that balance between what the customer wants and Euro NCAP.” 

“For me, the real value of attending an exhibition is the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations, build meaningful connections and see hands-on demonstrations in person. That level of engagement simply cannot be replicated online”
Vishnu Asvathanarayanan, function owner – system engineer, Valeo Detection Systems

Bugatti-Rimac’s vehicle dynamics controls manager Alessandro Pino appeared alongside the CEO and co-founder of Marple, Matthias Baert, to present A modern lakehouse architecture for automotive testing. Following the talk, he emphasized to ATTI, “We encourage teams to think beyond isolated datasets and adopt a centralized data strategy, using a unified data lake such as Marple DB combined with an exploration and analysis platform like Marple Insight.” 

It was also a welcome and refreshing change to see so many truck developers on the show floor, as well as on the panel discussions. There was even a professional truck driver, Tatiana Sokolova, taking notes in the audience, who was keen to give her input from a driver’s perspective and learn more about how simulation, AI and real-world data can support each other. 

“I came to Vehicle Tech Week to meet people and learn from the presenters and the show floor. It has been exhausting but happy. For me, the real value of attending in person is the spontaneous meetings you did not plan”
Carina Bjornsson, technical expert ADAS test methods, Volvo Cars

Like Deutsch at Nissan, Dr Christof M Weber wanted to highlight the criticality of always taking the customer into account, and to that effect, he arranged a meeting with Sokolova. He was on a panel discussion – Combining virtual environments with real-world testing – alongside Leo May, lead simulation engineer, Nissan Technical Centre Europe; Mikel Martinez, managing director, EPowerLabs; Andreas Richter, engineer program manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles; and moderator Carlos Sebastian Nerini, CEO and co-founder of WOM Testing Technologies.

Nerini said, “The panel was highly successful in my view. It flowed from start to finish, with exactly the kind of high‑level discussion we needed, enriched by meaningful contributions from all panelists. The strong audience presence, concrete examples, and insightful inputs clearly show the relevance of the topic. Even with limited direct questions, the depth of content required time to be processed, which is often a sign of quality discussions. These are the kinds of conversations that start to drive change and raise awareness about the transforming impact of new technologies on established development processes.”

Weber commented, “It’s about making concepts stable and resilient against changes during the project, resilient against variations and different models. Then it becomes clear that you have to do virtual testing when it comes to variance, because a prototype you build once cannot be copied 100,000 times, but you can perform hundreds of calculations.” 

“As a regular visitor, I came to Vehicle Tech Week to network and explore new solutions and technologies. The experience has been organized, slick and full of variety. Meeting vendors in person beats online every time”
Jon Gale, TS – rig and system integration, Jaguar Land Rover

VIP Executive Club

The event also featured the VIP Executive Club, a dedicated space for senior leaders that offered curated peer talks throughout the show. 

“We have had some great sessions and heard some great stories [during the PeerTalks],” said Arun Udamakuyar, systems architect, Jaguar Land Rover. 

Vehicle Tech Week Awards 2026

At the end of Day 2, visitors, exhibitors and other attendees had a chance to relax a little while networking and celebrating. The first Vehicle Tech Week Awards, which encompass the ATTI Awards, the ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Awards and the Trailblazer Awards, were hailed as a huge success. The ATTI Award winners – Humanetics, DSD, Tracetronic, WeRide, DTS and Santiago Rayes – were absolutely delighted to receive the recognition. Read more about the ATTI Award winners here.

Visitor testimonials

“I came to Vehicle Tech Week to share our experience on a project of global relevance, gain feedback on our technical deployment strategy and explore the latest trends in CAV and AI presented by a broad range of industry players, from OEMs to component suppliers. My experience has been enlightening, useful and cool – literally, the air-conditioning worked well! Face-to-face events continue to be invaluable, offering a true opportunity to build an industry network”
Mircea Gradu, VP vehicle engineering and FISITA board chair, Karma Automotive and FISITA

“We usually interact with many [suppliers] over the phone or on Teams, so being able to meet them all in one place makes a real difference. It is also valuable to see competitors side by side, understand where their services overlap and have more organic conversations than you would in a set meeting. The experience has been informative and has opened up a lot of curiosity, leading to additional questions and follow-up workshops with suppliers back in the UK. Exhibitions are important because they help you step outside your own bubble, gather external opinions and see whether your views align with the wider industry”
Craig Lewis, Jaguar Land Rover

“I’m a vehicle engineer working on vehicle testing for new Ford Otosan projects. I wanted to learn about new systems, new equipment and new test centers from suppliers. The experience has been fun, intense and insightful. Attending an exhibition in person allows for real interaction, hands-on experience and stronger networking compared to online”
Suleyman Esen, senior vehicle NVH engineer, Ford Otosan

Dates for the diary

On offer at Automotive Testing Expo North America 2026 will be another content-packed program with insights from OEMs, academics and suppliers. That will include the Future of Automotive Testing Conference, focusing on the ‘shift-left’ movement, as well as the Innovation Showcase. It will take place at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, October 22-25, 2026.

Vehicle Tech Week Europe will return to Messe Stuttgart June 2-3, 2027, and will continue to unite the automotive technology ecosystem across testing, autonomy, interiors and future mobility.

Read more: Find full coverage of Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2026 here

With five categories for 2026 – Testing Hardware Innovation of the Year, Testing Software Innovation of the Year, Simulation Innovation of the Year, Facility of the Year and Supplier of the Year – the awards are more prestigious than ever.

The awards are coordinated by Automotive Testing Technology International magazine and judged by a panel of 15 international experts from across the automotive industry.

Rachel Evans, editor of ATTI and chair of the ATTI Awards, said, “It will come as no surprise to learn that we once again received a raft of entries for the Testing Software Innovation and Simulation Innovation categories, making the shortlist particularly difficult to narrow down. The Testing Hardware Innovation of the Year category also attracted a high number of contenders.”

With entries spanning acoustics testing, ADAS and AV analysis, active and passive safety development, and connectivity testing, it was Humanetics that won the Testing Hardware Innovation of the Year category with the THOR-5F. The company has been collaborating with NHTSA over the last few years to build the new female ATD, which is meant to fill the gaps and provide the means for accurate female crash testing. 

As Graham Heeps, former editor of ATTI and awards judge, put it, “More accurate representation of female occupants in vehicle crash testing is decades overdue.”

Each year, nominations in the Testing Software Innovation of the Year category grow, with entries ranging from automation systems and data-handling solutions to CI/CD technology and more. This year, Tracetronic’s one:cx, a groundbreaking end-to-end continuous integration/continuous development platform, took the top honor. The solution redefines how vehicle software is integrated, validated and approved.

Dr Ahmed Abada, a jury member who spoke on stage with Evans earlier in the day, noted, “The agentic testing direction is forward looking and aligns with where testing is headed.”

The shortlist for Simulation Innovation of the Year focused heavily on battery technology and, despite the slowdown in the rollout of AV technology, self-driving vehicle evaluation. This highlights the importance of virtual development in enabling the widespread adoption of alternatively powered vehicles and automated driving. Taking home the trophy was WeRide for Genesis – a general-purpose simulation model combining physical AI and generative AI for AV analysis. By bridging the real and simulated worlds, Genesis enables rapid and realistic scenario generation.

Said Evans, “Sometimes it’s relatively clear who the winner will be but I couldn’t call this one. It was refreshing to have Waabi’s mixed-reality application on the shortlist as it’s a little bit different. However, Genesis by WeRide ultimately won by a clear margin of 20 points.”

Facility of the Year featured a particularly diverse field of entries, nominated for a variety of reasons: DSD for its powertrain test service offering; Metrosert for its unique driverless vehicle facility; Mercedes-Benz for its world-first light test center; RISE for its 6G edge computing hub; Toyota for the refinements to its Arizona proving ground that will greatly improve the customer experience; and Hyundai for its sprawling new German hub.

Deservedly, it was DSD that took home the trophy, with the jury noting the measurable impact of its support and services. Operating as a development partner, Drive System Design’s engineers integrate seamlessly within customer teams, delivering adaptive, data‑rich testing that supports high‑fidelity model correlation and robust digital twin development.

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the ATTI Facility of the Year award,” said Rob Smith, head of development and test at DSD. “It’s a fantastic recognition of the expertise, dedication and collaborative spirit that underpin everything we do at Drive System Design.”

He continued, “We’re proud to be supporting the development of next-generation propulsion systems across a wide range of sectors, from automotive and commercial vehicles to aerospace, defense and beyond. By bringing design, development and testing together within a single, integrated environment, we can move seamlessly from concept through to validation, helping customers tackle increasingly complex engineering challenges with confidence while accelerating development and reducing program risk.” 

Winning the Supplier of the Year title was Diversified Technical Systems, which was recognized for its sheer graft in bringing to market new technologies that push boundaries. In the past year, DTS has launched five key products, acting as an end-to-end solutions provider and enabling efficient setup, reliable power distribution, synchronized data capture and streamlined communication across increasingly complex crash-test environments.

“DTS is honored to receive the Supplier of the Year award. We view this recognition as validation of our global team’s ongoing commitment to developing the most innovative data acquisition systems on the market,” said Chad Ivan, sales and applications manager at DTS. “Supporting automotive and aerospace testing where ‘failure is not an option’ is at the core of everything we do. That’s one reason our technical support and development teams are always looking for ways to make our customers’ experience as seamless as possible, today and in the future.”

For 2026, the Vehicle Tech Week Trailblazer Awards were introduced, recognizing the personal achievements of some remarkable individuals. Handpicked by the editors, ATTI’s trailblazer is Santiago Rayes, product manager at GRAS Sound & Vibration. He was nominated for his contribution to shaping modern automotive acoustic testing – an important and growing field – including his exceptional leadership in advancing the development and introduction of the GRAS 45BD AutoKEMAR platform.

Evans concluded, “As we know, the vehicle testing field is extremely diverse, with niches within niches. Very often, there is a clear theme within some categories and across the sector as a whole. This year, however, there was a particularly wide variety of entries. That has been fantastic to see, as it demonstrates innovation happening in all corners of the industry. It is also especially rewarding for us to recognize businesses from very different areas, of all sizes and types.”

Look out for more on the winners in the September 2026 edition of Automotive Testing Technology International.

ATTI will continue to report on the news and insights from Automotive Testing Expo Europe, which runs until 3pm tomorrow (June 25). Click here to book your free expo pass to Vehicle Tech Week Europe 2026

See the full ATTI Awards 2026 shortlist here

The day started with a panel discussion on Euro 7. It’s a topic that has come in and out of the spotlight, and which ATTI has reported on several times over the past few years.

Next up was ATTI’s fireside chat with Dr Ahmed Ebada, an avid contributor to the magazine, on digital twins and AI. Asked what he hopes people will be thinking about – or doing differently – after they leave the discussion, he said, “I hope attendees leave with a more practical view of AI and digital twins. Rather than asking, ‘How can we deploy more AI?’ I would like them to ask, ‘How can we build trustworthy systems that continuously learn, validate and improve outcomes?’

“Whether we are discussing automated testing, digital twins, SDVs or autonomous systems, the key opportunity lies in connecting data, simulation, AI and real-world operations into a continuous feedback loop.

“Ultimately, I hope the audience recognizes that competitive advantage will not come from having the most AI models, but from building the most reliable and scalable AI-driven decision systems.”

Audience member Tatiana Sokolova, a professional truck driver, said she is especially interested in how AI, digital twins and intelligent testing technologies can better reflect real-world road conditions and professional driving experience. While the exhibition’s audience doesn’t typically include drivers, she was excited to add a practical, real-world angle to the discussions.

She commented, “I am especially interested in how real-world operational feedback from professional drivers can support testing, validation and safety discussions – for example, by helping to identify edge cases, unusual traffic situations, foreseeable misuse and boundary situations that may be difficult to capture only in simulations or standard test scenarios.”

The morning continued with presentations, and began this afternoon with another panel at 1:35pm, Safe by design, secure by default – navigating SOTIF, functional safety and cybersecurity in modern automotive testing, and more presentation and panels.

One of ATTI’s afternoon highlights is the presentation from Matthias Baert, CEO and co-founder of Marple, and Alessandro Pino, vehicle dynamics controls manager, Bugatti-Rimac – A modern lakehouse architecture for automotive testing – scheduled to take place at 2:25pm. Speaking ahead of the presentation Pino said, “Engineering teams often believe meaningful analysis requires local scripts, while server-based platforms are seen as tools for finance or business users. In reality, modern, server-based technologies are ideally suited to engineering workflows, enabling collaboration, scalability and faster insight generation.”

A panel discussion at 3:10pm will be led by ATTI on Euro NCAP 2026, which introduces the largest increase in test scenarios since the assessment program was launched is due to take place. Euro NCAP 2026: What the new safety framework means for the automotive testing community will cover key questions including how the changes are expected to affect testing and how long OEMs expect this transition to take, how tuning and verification activities will fit within overall development activities, virtual and physical analysis integration, and what Euro NCAP is doing to ensure its program isn’t disruptive to OEMs.

One of ATTI’s panelists, Emma Deutsch, director of customer-oriented engineering, test operations and DP office at Nissan Technology Centre Europe, who spoke to ATTI onstage last year, said, “I’m looking forward to discussing how we can work more collaboratively on vehicle safety. I hope that we can give the audience an insight into how these changes effect how vehicle design and development is being radically changed – and how this affects customers.”

The ATTI Forum will conclude with another panel followed by the awards.

Awards 
Meet in the Atrium from 4:30pm (ceremony at 5:15pm) for drinks and to celebrate industry achievements across 13 categories and three sets of awards: the Automotive Testing Technology International Awards, the new Vehicle Tech Week Trailblazer Awards and the ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International Awards.

Automotive Testing Expo, part of Vehicle Tech Week Europe 2026, is open 9am to 3pm tomorrow, June 25

Read Dr Ebada’s column in the March 2026 edition

Herrmann presented IPG’s approach to creating edge cases in simulation, which fills existing gaps using a combination of simulation and Nvidia Cosmos Transfer, a Gen AI tool. The workflow was presented by IPG Automotive to developers for the first time earlier this year and has generated significant interest, with inquiries about customized applications. Herrmann was pleased with the turnout to his presentation and is hopeful it will generate further interest.  

“We are here at the show sharing a booth with b-plus because we want to discuss with visitors where we can fill the gaps in real-world data collection,” Herrmann says. “Having massive amounts of real data isn’t enough; it needs to be the right data. 

“The industry is searching for ways to make more use of it and reuse it in the future because new vehicle generations will require different data – and this is where simulation can help, by reusing edge cases and generating synthetic data that matches the new vehicle generation.” 

Herrmann noted that people are right to be skeptical about AI, emphasizing that training AI must not rely solely on synthetic data, but also include real-world data. 

Meet the IPG and b-plus teams at Booth 1702.

More on simulation in the September edition of the Automotive Testing Technology International.  

Keep checking the ATTI website for highlights from Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2026, part of Vehicle Tech Week, which runs until Thursday, 25 June. Click here to register for your free pass to Vehicle Tech Week Europe 2026 

Receiving attention from visitors this morning was Crysound, which develops a range of acoustic cameras. It is showcasing its latest technologies from a 64-channel pocket unit through to a 208-channel ultrasound camera. These solutions offer high-end technology in an affordable package. In addition, Crysound is highlighting its new IP67-rated microphones for use in harsh environments. 

Peipei Hou, VP of Crysound, noted, “Our cameras cover both the audible and ultrasound ranges, and we support custom configurations for specialized applications such as abnormal-noise detection and leak detection.”

She added, “We have lowered the cost of our microphone array by using MEMS microphones and a new MCU processor. Visitors so far have said it’s very interesting for them.”

Another key product on display at Crysound’s booth is a recently developed AI noise fault-detection algorithm for end-of-line quality control testing. As Peipei explained, there was initially a period of convincing customers of the AI tool’s capabilities.

“Our AI-based noise fault-detection algorithm is being used both on production lines and in R&D laboratories for electric motor inspection, with strong interest from EV car manufacturers globally.”

The company attends Testing Expo China every year and has exhibited in Europe for several years to expand its market reach and promote its European distributors. It was Crysound’s domestic business that catalyzed the development of the AI agent. “The Chinese market is really different because it’s all EVs,” Peipei emphasized.  

“Some of the algorithms are proprietary and some are open source. Our strength is providing the entire noise detection package.” 

Find out more at Booth 1202.

See the forthcoming September 2026 edition of Automotive Testing Technology International for more on NVH and acoustics. 

Keep checking the ATTI website for highlights from Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2026, part of Vehicle Tech Week, which runs until Thursday, 25 June. Click here to register for your free pass to Vehicle Tech Week Europe 2026

In addition to the products on display on the show floor and the chance to get up close and personal with their creators, the ATTI Forum, which will take place on day two, beginning at 9:45am, will feature a selection of presentations, fireside chats and panel discussions.

At 10:20am, ATTI will be onstage with Dr Ahmed Ebada, CEO and professor of informatics and AI and a senior product manager at HOPn. In the March 2026 edition of ATTI, Dr Ebada, who is also an ATTI Awards judge, scrutinizes intelligent test technologies, discussing elements such as hybrid twins, edge-deployed twins and multi-domain integration. Dr Ebada also spoke to ATTI in November last year in an exclusive interview about BMW‘s digital twin initiative. Bringing valuable insights from industry and academia, Dr Ebada isn’t afraid to challenge common assumptions – so don’t miss ATTI‘s fireside chat with him at expo. 

The three-day Innovation Showcase will offer an opportunity for visitors to learn in a more interactive format. On the morning of day two, there will be a b-plus workshop on data in ADAS and AV development, and in the afternoon, a MOVEdot workshop, with developers sharing wisdom on how they’re harnessing AI and how they can harness specialist tools to get the best out of a project.

For those in cockpit development, interior materials or any form of in-cabin technology sphere, the three-day Interivision Forum will take place at Automotive Interiors Expo, and for those in connected car and driverless vehicle development, there will be the AVT Live Zone and Autonomous Vehicle Tech Conference at Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo. Both Automotive Interiors Expo and Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo have a strong testing theme throughout.

And don’t miss the ATTI Awards, which will take place as part of the Vehicle Tech Week Awards, on Wednesday, June 24. Come and toast the winners and network with nominated companies.

Visit the website to register for a free pass to Automotive Testing Expo Europe. The event is part of Vehicle Tech Week Europe and will take place at the Messe Stuttgart, Germany, on June 23-25, 2026

Read our pick of the the ATTI Forum highlights.

Get inside the mind of ATTI Awards judge and vehicle dynamics guru Damian Harty.

Analyses were carried out while the vehicle was fully loaded to its 5.5-metric-ton gross vehicle weight (GVW), subjecting the platform, drivetrain, suspension and body structure to repeated high-load impacts, water crossings, mud, side-tilt evaluation and endurance running.

Developed for specialist conversion and demanding civil applications, the Terrastorm 4X4 HD provides a base for emergency response, utility, expedition, remote access, mobile workshop, support vehicle and heavy-duty passenger transportation requirements.

Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, the founder and CEO of Torsus, commented, “The Terrastorm 4×4 HD was created because we saw a clear demand for a heavy-duty, long-wheelbase 4×4 platform with the strength, traction and versatility required for specialist conversion and demanding real-world use. Operators working in remote, challenging or unpredictable environments need vehicles that can carry weight, cover difficult ground and continue performing where conventional platforms reach their limits. That is exactly where Terrastorm has been engineered to operate.

“Completing this 90-day RAM-D validation program is an important milestone for Torsus and for the Terrastorm 4×4 HD. The vehicle has been tested under load, across demanding terrain and through a program designed to reflect intensive real-world use. That gives customers confidence not just in what the vehicle promises, but in what it has proven it can do.

Over the course of the program, the Terrastorm 4×4 HD covered 15,000km while fully loaded. This lifetime test in a combined cycle simulates intensive operational use and equates to 45,000-60,000km of normal driving.

It was driven repeatedly through still and moving water up to 800mm deep, replicating real-world scenarios including river crossings, flooded roads and operations across unstable terrain. High-speed water testing was also conducted to validate the company’s in-house-developed snorkel system and custom breathers for axles and transmission. Tests confirmed stable engine airflow and effective drivetrain sealing, supporting reliable operation even in fast-flowing or flooded terrain.

Terrastorm’s suspension was subjected to extreme dynamic testing, including jump trials designed to simulate severe off-road impacts. Results confirmed strong structural resilience, energy absorption and ride stability under full-payload and high-impact conditions.

The heavy-duty minibus drivetrain was assessed across deep water, mud, ruts and broken terrain. With low range engaged and differential locks activated in conditions including deep holes and diagonal wheel lifts, the system maintained steady forward progress.

Full-scale mud trials were conducted with the vehicle loaded to its GVW. The test site featured deep, sticky clay, uneven trenches and variable traction zones, each designed to challenge drivetrain response, torque distribution and wheel-slip management.

At the VTÚ facility, additional validation included a side-tilt test conducted on the Cargo version of the Terrastorm, fully loaded with euro pallets. The assessment evaluated weight distribution and center of mass under full-payload conditions and extreme lateral forces. Results confirmed that the Terrastorm maintained stability, balance and predictable handling throughout.

The vehicle’s reinforced steel bumper, custom-built by the Torsus in-house engineering team, was assessed for its ability to protect the front structure, powertrain components and lighting units from impacts with rocks, debris and uneven terrain, while its robust geometry supports approach angles and clearance in severe off-road environments.

“With locking differentials, a low-range gearbox, a 5.5-metric-ton platform and the durability required for specialist conversion, Terrastorm gives operators a highly capable base for a wide range of applications, from expedition and emergency-response vehicles to mobile workshops, utility support units and heavy-duty passenger transport. We believe it sets a new benchmark for heavy-duty 4×4 minibuses,” said Dzhukashvili.

In related news, Audi A2 e-tron racks up the miles during validation testing

In the June edition of the mag, ATTI explores the challenges of agricultural vehicle analysis

Kessels has more than 20 years of experience within the Volkswagen Group, a PhD in mechanical engineering from the North West University in South Africa, and four years as director of R&D at FAW‑Volkswagen China. For more than a decade, he has contributed to the VW Group’s electrification journey, including the development of advanced battery systems. In line with the new brand group Core governance model, he will report to Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT and Cupra, as well as to Kai Grünitz, member of the brand group Core board of management responsible for technical development.

Haupt said, “We are excited to welcome Joost Kessels for this new chapter. His strong technical background and deep experience in the group, including his role in China, make him the right leader to drive this next phase for our company. While we continue to lead the Electric Urban Car Family on behalf of the Volkswagen Group, we will now also start taking over the leadership of the electric MEB21 platform. A clear recognition of our work and demonstration of how much potential lies ahead for our company and the Iberian Peninsula.”

With the electric MEB21 platform, SEAT and Cupra will, for the first time in its history, assume the leadership of the technical development of a group platform. This mandate marks a significant milestone for the company further consolidating its responsibility for the region and strengthening its role within the group.

Grünitz commented, “I am very happy that Joost Kessels will take on responsibility for the development of SEAT and Cupra. With lean structures and accelerated decision-making processes, we will elevate development across the BGC-network to a new level. Our focus will be on achieving highly competitive development timelines and costs.”

Vehicles built on the MEB21 platform include the Cupra Raval and Volkswagen ID Polo, produced in Martorell, Spain; the ID Cross and Škoda Epiq, produced in Navarra, Spain; among others. The MEB21 platform, developed within the MEB+ matrix, debuts a new front‑wheel‑drive architecture with a highly efficient electric drive that cuts complexity, components and weight.

Haupt added, “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Werner Tietz, who has played a decisive role in making the Electric Urban Car Family project a success. I’ve truly enjoyed working with him, and I know it will be a special moment for him to see the CUPRA Raval on the streets this year. His contribution has left a lasting mark on our company.”

Related, Randle Engineering strengthens team with vehicle dynamics specialist Javier Maruenda

Maruenda brings a wealth of experience including more than nine years in vehicle dynamics, covering both passenger and commercial vehicles across multiple global OEMs, with specialist knowledge in multibody dynamics, simulation model creation, kinematics and compliance optimization, active chassis systems, vehicle testing, calibration and validation.

Most recently, he served as vehicle dynamics principal engineer at an automotive technology business where he was involved in developing software‑defined, zero‑emission vehicle platforms, integrating advanced drive and control systems. This involved both physical and simulation-based vehicle dynamics validation.

Prior to that, he held roles at Tata Motors European Technical Centre, Jaguar Land Rover and Idiada where he was heavily involved in ADAMS model development, target setting, objective and subjective benchmarking, procedural development, R&D leadership and technical training delivery.

Maruenda is currently completing an MSc in maths and computing engineering, specializing in numerical methods and dynamic systems modeling.

“Randle combines serious engineering intelligence with a genuinely welcoming culture, which is a rare and powerful mix,” he said. “The first‑principles mindset and cross‑sector work make it an inspiring place to think, test and build ideas. I’m delighted to be joining the team and contributing to what comes next.”

Peter Benzie, engineering manager at Randle Engineering, commented, “We are thrilled to bring Javier into the team. He is a fantastic fit with his technical ability, inquisitive nature and collaborative skills. Known for his questioning approach and desire to truly understand the mathematics behind every problem, he brings a rare depth of analytical thinking to his work in vehicle dynamics, modeling and advanced control. This mindset significantly underpins our capability and reflects our commitment to delivering intellectually rigorous consultancy across automotive, defence, aerospace, robotics and beyond.”

The company said it has had a strong start to 2026 with numerous new engineering projects secured. 

Related news, Hyundai Mobis joins S-Core project to advance SDV software platform development