Dearborn Development Center 2007 product program
Dearborn, Michigan. 5 months into Ford's Way Forward and the changes are becoming more and more apparent. Although the ride through this program has not been without its ups and downs, the progress is quite measurable. Ford sent out invitations to the automotive media for a visit of their completely revamped Dearborn Development Center (DDC). 43 million dollars went into the 365 acres proving grounds to simulate American and European roads. This investment is designed to streamline the development of new products in order to reduce the average age of the products from 4.4 to 3.2 years by 2008 for one, and to effectively evaluate every new vehicle for better quality and safety. This Center features a wind tunnel, a steering and handling course, a high and low speed test track as well as wet and dry vehicle dynamic testing areas.
