Company
VI-grade is the global provider of disruptive vehicle development solutions that are paving the way to developing vehicles with Zero Prototypes. Its human-centric solutions comprise industry-leading real-time simulation software, professional driving simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop solutions that accelerate product development across the transportation industry.
The company’s suite of scalable driving simulators covers a wide performance range to assess the multi-disciplinary driving experience. These proven solutions enable OEMs, suppliers, research centers, motorsport teams and universities to reduce physical prototypes while accelerating innovation in their quest to get ever nearer to achieving the ultimate development goal of Zero Prototypes.
VI-grade is part of HBK’s Virtual Test Division, which focuses on providing real-time software, simulator, and hardware-in-the-loop solutions to virtually test products throughout the development cycle, helping companies accelerate innovation and reduce time-to-market, and improve their competitive advantage.
Since September 2018, VI-grade has been part of Spectris plc. The firm conducts business in four major segments - materials analysis, testing & measurement, in-line instrumentation and industrial controls - and serves a broad range of industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to electronics, energy, mining and pharmaceuticals
2022
- VI-grade expands its real-time simulation capabilities with AutoHawk, a state-of-the-art, flexible HiL platform for automotive applications
- Numerous DYNAMIC DiM250 and DiM400 Driving Simulator adoptions and installations worldwide: Honda Japan, Ford, CICV and HORIBA MIRA
- VI-grade concludes inaugural global ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit series with events held in Udine (Italy), Novi (MI, USA) and Tokyo (Japan), attracting over 500 in-person and 800 virtual attendees from 42 countries
- Successful COMPACT Simulator installations at Italian braking systems manufacturer Brembo and Ford China
Newly launched superior maintenance programs CARE and CARE+ guarantee customers maximum operational uptime for their Driving Simulators. - VI-grade introduces global sponsorship program for Formula Student Teams and new regulations for 2023 Virtual Formula, allowing more engineering students worldwide to join the competition
2021
- Concurrent Real-Time joins HBK’s newly formed Virtual Test Division, which already includes VI-grade, formerly B&K NVH Simulator Team, Imtec Engineering and Righthook, all following the same mission of accelerating product innovation by bridging the gap between simulation and physical testing
- VI-grade launches COMPACT NVH Simulator capable of providing accurate, calibrated, multi-axial vibration at all driver touch points, enabling a complete NVH experience, but in a small footprint
- Numerous new Driving Simulator adoptions & installations worldwide at Politecnico di Milano, Goodyear, Aston Martin Lagonda, Peugeot Sport, McMaster University, HORIBA MIRA, CEVT, FAW Hongqi and Applus+ IDIADA China
- VI-grade forms new strategic partnerships with BlackBerry QNX & iMotions
- Over 2,000 attendees join VI-grade’s fully virtual 2021 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
- VI-grade extends its product line with upgradable and configurable Driving Simulator Solution DiM50 – a dynamic simulator with a superior degree of realism combined with a low price point
2020
- VI-grade launches scalable, Cable-driven Simulator product line together with new, High-Resolution graphic environment VI-WorldSim at Virtual Grand Opening of the expanded SimCenter in Udine
- More than 1300 registered participants at the first VI-grade Virtual International Conference
- VI-grade expands its product line with all NVH Simulation Software and NVH Driving Simulators from sister company Brüel& Kjær in order to deliver unique, high-valuable sound simulation solutions to the automotive market
- SimCenter Detroit and NVH dedicated SimCenter Millbrook open their doors to customers
- VI-grade launches VI-Certified, an elevated partner program for 3rd party tools and solutions on VI-grade Driving Simulators
- Numerous new Driving Simulator adoptions & installations worldwide: Goodyear, CEVT, Pirelli, University of Brescia, Fawer Y-Tec …
- Simulator sales continue to outpace the closest competitors by a factor of three
- VI-grade acquires long-lasting key partner and supplier IMTEC Engineering to enhance R&D, manufacturing and production capabilities
2019
- Maserati hosts winners of 2019 VI-grade’s Virtual Formula at brand-new Innovation Lab in Modena
- More than 100 attendees at first Japan VI-grade Users Conference in Shinagawa
- Numerous driving simulator labs equipped with VI-grade technologies are opened: Envision Virgin Racing, Applus+ IDIADA, FCA, Maserati
- Driving simulators become a critical tool in Formula E: the 3 winning teams of the 5th FoE championship are using VI-grade simulator technology
- VI-grade and Multimatic announce SimCenter, an advanced vehicle development and driving simulation center to be located in the greater Detroit area
- More than 240 engineers, managers and simulation experts attend the 11th VI-grade International Conference in Hanau, Germany
- VI-grade collaborates with Konrad Technologies presenting a new testing method, driver in the Loop with Sensor Fusion Test, at the Testing Expo shows in Europe and USA
2018
- VI-grade becomes part of Spectris – an internationally operating and leading conglomerate in the technology sector
- First two installations of DiM250 dynamic driving simulator provided to Honda R&D and Mercedes AMG
- More than 230 engineers, managers and simulation experts from throughout the world attend the 10th VI-grade Users conference in Milan, Italy
- Completed installation of the dynamic driving simulator DiM150 at the Audi Motorsport site in Neuburg, Germany
- over 100 Motorsport enthusiastic (engineering) students participate in the Virtual Formula – VI-grade's unique student competition built upon the rules of the popular Formula Student
2017
- Honda R&D is the first company in the world to adopt DiM250, the revolutionary driving simulator from VI-grade and Saginomiya
- Our Users Conference in Turin, Italy marks the record attendance of 200+ participants
- Major release of version 18.0 of real-time and vertical products
- Signed partnership with Applus+ Idiada to deliver virtual proving ground data for offline and online simulations
- DiM150 successfully installed at NIO in China and FCA LATAM in Brazil
- Reached the number of 40 VI-grade driving simulators worldwide (static and dynamic)
2016
- Sponsorship agreements signed with 30 leading universities and Formula SAE teams
- Technical partner Danisi Engineering opens Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Center featuring static and dynamic simulators from VI-grade
- FCA Latam and PUC Minas adopt DiM as first dynamic driving simulator ever installed in Latin America
- NIO (former NextEV) installs DiM as key solution for the development of new electric cars
2015
- MRacing Formula SAE Team adopts the VI-DriveSim technology
- Showa Corporation implements a top-notch steering simulator based on VI-grade technology
- V17 of realtime products released in Q2
- Completed installation of DiM at Volvo Car Corporation
2014
- Installations of DiM at Volvo Cars and Porsche Motorsports
- Launch of the www.driverinmotion.com website dedicated to the DiM technology
- Version 16.0 of main products released in Q2-Q3
- "DiM - Driver-in-Motion" awarded "Development Tool of the Year" by the Vehicle Dynamics International magazine
- Added new reseller in India
- Added new direct office in US and Switzerland
2013
- First successful installation of DiM at Ferrari
- Version 15.0 of main products released in Q2
- Strategic development partnership with MIRA announced
- Added new resellers in China
2012
- Added new direct offices in China and UK
- Added new resellers in South Africa and China
- Version 14.0 of main products released in Q2
- Signed distribution agreement with Red Cedar Technology to market the Heeds product in UK
2011
- Added new reseller for France
- Launched VI-SimCenter, the brand new technical center dedicated to the state-of-the-art of driving simulation technology
- Successful 4th edition of the VI-grade Users Conference in Udine, Italy with over 130 industry experts attending the event
- Partnership with Maplesoft to make real-time modeling applications more cost and time-effective
- Partnership with Multimatic to further develop the VI-DriveSim Dynamic technology
2010
- Added new resellers for Taiwan and Australia
- Great success of 2nd Edition of Virtual Formula, with 66 participants from all over the world
- Version 13.0 of the entire product suite released in Q3
- 3rd VI-grade Users Conference organized in Bad Nauheim, Germany, with over 120 industry experts attending the event
- Release of VI-DriveSim, the revolutionary turnkey solution for system-level driving simulation
2009
- Added new resellers for China, Benelux and Brazil
- Successfully launched 1st Edition of Virtual Formula, an initiative to virtually simulate FSAE vehicles in VI-CarRealTime
- Version 12.0 of the entire product suite released in June
- Signed Agreement with FEV for the distribution of Virtual Engine in EMEA and APAC
2008
- Version 11.0 of the entire product suite released in February.
- Joint development of driving simulator with human in the loop with the Universities of Catania and Perugia.
- Introduction of VI-Animator, a tool to visualize simulation results.
- In November 2008 the 2nd VI-grade Users Conference was organized in Udine, Italy. Over 120 industry experts attended the conference and made this event a big success for VI-grade. Read more ...
2007
- In 2007 Vi-grade established an international partner network in 10 countries.
- Version 10.0 of the entire product suite released.
- Introduction of VI-Road, a tool to model road surfaces and to create driverlines.
- Development of new driver technology for maximum performance simulations with Audi.
- In November 2007 the 1st VI-grade Users Conference was organized in Marburg, Germany. Over 100 industry experts from 52 companies attended the conference and made this event a big success for VI-grade. Read more ...
2006
- Diego Minen and Christoph Ortmann joined the company as shareholders.
- Direct offices were established in Italy, United States of America and Japan.
- First release of industry specific MSC.ADAMS verticals under the VI-grade Umbrella.
- VI-grade became MSC.Software agent for DACH, Italy and North America.
2005
- VI-grade was founded in October 2005 by Jürgen Fett and Ruggero Frezza.