50 years Nardò Technical Center

Nardò. Nardò Technical Center (NTC), the South-Italian proving ground owned by Porsche and operated by Porsche Engineering, celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Originally opened on July 1, 1975, NTC has consistently set the benchmark in vehicle testing and development of the automotive industry worldwide. Today, NTC offers year-round testing services under a wide range of conditions, including high-speed endurance and complex handling scenarios as well as ADAS validation and autonomous driving testing. These capabilities ensure the development of high-performance, intelligent, connected, and safe vehicles. Its 700-hectare site today features 20 test tracks and facilities, including the iconic high-speed ring, a 6.2-kilometer handling course, and state-of-the-art simulation technologies.

“We are honored to celebrate this special anniversary and feel a deep sense of responsibility for what NTC represents,” says Antonio Gratis, Managing Director of NTC. “We are proud of its history, of its contribution to the industry and of the many people who shaped it over time,” adds Gratis. “This is not just a test center – it’s a place where technology and purpose come together to move the mobility forward and where the next chapters of innovation are already being written.”

Originally established by Fiat, the proving ground quickly earned a reputation for its groundbreaking 12.6-kilometer circular high-speed ring track — a revolutionary concept at that time and still unique in its shape and dimension. Over the decades, NTC has been enhancing its testing capabilities with additional tracks and facilities, serving as pivotal proving ground for diverse testing requirements and as the venue of numerous historic milestones - including multiple speed records and endurance tests that have shaped automotive engineering standards worldwide.

Acquired by the Porsche Group in 2012, NTC became a core part of the comprehensive development and validation ecosystem of Porsche Engineering, an international engineering services provider for global B2B customers. The integration into Porsche Engineering’s global network marked a new chapter, driving significant investments in modernization, infrastructure, and digitalization. It also extended capabilities across the entire vehicle development process – including seamless, real and virtual development workflows. This solidified NTC’s vital role as a leading technology partner for next-generation mobility by addressing the evolving demands of the global automotive industry.

In 2021, NTC transformed a former facility into a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery testing center. With the installation of a robust charging infrastructure, NTC has become a key partner for electric vehicle testing. In 2023, NTC broadened its technological footprint and expertise in Southern Italy by establishing a dedicated software unit in nearby Lecce. This addition enhanced NTC’s capabilities in software development, simulation, and digital innovation – while closely connecting it to the on-site validation solutions at the proving ground, including a 5G hybrid mobile private network.

Beyond its technological impact, NTC plays an important role in Southern Italy’s economy and serves a local innovation hub. Over the last decade, it contributed an average of 20 million euros per year to the local economy. Through strong partnerships with local universities, technical schools (ITS), and via a dual education system, NTC actively fosters high-level talent and develops future-ready skills in the Salento region.

Further information and film and photo material are available in the Porsche Newsroom: newsroom.porsche.com