Udine, Italy, June 3rd, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, together with HBK, today announced the successful conclusion of the 2026 Smart Prototypes Summit, held from May 19–22 at the VI-grade SimCenter in Udine, Italy.

Uniting the global mobility ecosystem around the theme “Beyond Zero: Welcome to the Smart Era,” the 2026 edition marked the successful launch of the first Smart Prototypes Summit – the next evolution of VI-grade’s long-established Zero Prototypes Summit series. Developed jointly by HBK and VI-grade, the new Summit format reflects the industry’s transition from isolated simulation workflows toward fully integrated Smart Testing ecosystems combining virtual simulation, physical testing, AI-supported engineering, and connected data intelligence. 

The first Smart Prototypes Summit welcomed more than 320 in-person attendees from over 100 global companies across the automotive, motorsport, commercial vehicle, tire, and technology sectors, with an additional 1500 attendees following the livestream online. Across four days, attendees experienced 40 keynote and technical presentations spanning six dedicated technology tracks, 25 live technology demonstrations, user group sessions, networking events, and globally streamed conference sessions focused on the future of simulation-driven vehicle development and Smart Testing. To relive the spirit of SPS2026, watch the official event recap video at https://youtu.be/N4LLL1rbRU8. 

A recurring theme throughout SPS2026 was the growing convergence of virtual and physical testing into connected engineering workflows already being deployed in real-world development programs today. Presentations and live demonstrations showcased how the industry is moving beyond experimentation toward scalable, intelligent execution environments capable of accelerating development while improving correlation, efficiency, and engineering insight.

“The question is no longer whether to simulate or physically test,” said Guido Bairati, Vice President Sales at HBK and Managing Director of VI-grade. “The real challenge today is how to intelligently combine both worlds. Smart Testing is the answer to that challenge, and SPS2026 demonstrated that this vision is already becoming reality.”

Tanneke Reinders, Executive Vice President – Simulation and Validation at HBK, added: “The first Smart Prototypes Summit showed how simulation, validation, AI, and data intelligence are converging into one connected engineering ecosystem. By connecting the physical and virtual worlds, we can help customers accelerate development cycles and bring products to market faster.”

Post-event proceedings, including presentation PDFs, and selected video recordings, are continuously being released on the official SPS2026 website at https://conference.vi-grade.com 

The official event photo gallery is available at: 
https://vi-gradegmbh.pixieset.com/2026smartprototypessummit/

Attendees and online participants can also access the recordings of all seven livestream sessions, including the official Smart Testing launch presentation by Tanneke Reinders and Guido Bairati, together with all customer keynote and technical presentations delivered throughout the Summit. Registration-based access to the livestream recordings remains available online.

Udine, Italy, March 5th, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, together with HBK, today announced the preliminary line-up of speakers for the upcoming Smart Prototypes Summit 2026, taking place from May 19-21, 2026, at the VI-grade SimCenter in Udine, Italy. The event will conclude on May 22 with interactive, discipline-specific user group sessions focused on sharing expertise and best practices across Ride & Handling, NVH and Durability & Reliability. 

Following strong interest from the global automotive engineering community, the Smart Prototypes Summit has already received more than 40 presentation proposals, underlining the relevance of smart prototypes as a unifying approach to virtual and physical vehicle development. Based on this response, VI-grade and HBK are pleased to share an extended list of confirmed contributing organizations.

Confirmed speakers to date include representatives from Automobili Lamborghini, Apollo Tyres, Applus+ IDIADA, Bridgestone in collaboration with Volkswagen, Bugatti Rimac, Cetim, Cosin Scientific Software, Ferrari Performance, Iveco, Mercedes-AMG in collaboration with MdynamiX, Michelin SIMIX in collaboration with EDAG Group, Multimatic, Nissan in collaboration with HORIBA MIRA, Pirelli in collaboration with MegaRide, S&VL in collaboration with Mazda, Stellantis Europe in collaboration with STEP Lab, the University of Salento in collaboration with Nardò Technical Center – Porsche Engineering, Valeo, Volkswagen, and Volvo Cars.

Presentations will cover real-world applications of smart prototypes across key development domains, including vehicle dynamics, ride, NVH, ADAS, durability and reliability, and electrified powertrains. Additional speakers and sessions will be announced as the technical program continues to take shape.

Alongside the technical program, attendees will experience live SimCenter demonstrations illustrating how smart prototypes are built and operated in real-world practice. These hands-on sessions will combine simulation software, professional driving simulators, Hardware-in-the-Loop platforms, and physical test solutions into integrated workflows, demonstrating how virtual and physical development environments can operate as one.

VI-grade and HBK would like to thank the industry partners supporting the Smart Prototypes Summit 2026:

• MAIN: cosin scientific software, HORIBA MIRA
• PLATINUM: Applus+ IDIADA, EDAG Group, Hexagon, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Rebel Dynamics, SAGInoMIYA, STEP Lab
• GOLD: Concurrent Real-Time, ICT, MdynamiX, Michelin SIMIX, Multimatic, project: syntropy
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, Barco, openDAQ™, VTT – Virtual Tire Technologies (a spin-off of Fraunhofer ITWM)
• BRONZE: BE CAE & Test, JEDAi, Moog

The Smart Prototypes Summit 2026 is supported by leading media partners, including ATZ, Automobil Industrie, Automotive Testing Technology International, engineering.com, SAE Media Group, and Vehicle Dynamics International.

Registration for the Smart Prototypes Summit 2026 is open with a 25% Early Bird Discount available for registrations made before March 15th, 2026. Additional information about the technical program and event experience will be published as it becomes available.

Udine, Italy, February 25th, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the successful final installation and go-live of the DiM500 Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) simulator at Bridgestone, marking an important milestone in the company’s digital tire development journey. Installed at Bridgestone’s R&D Centre near Rome, Italy, the VI-grade DiM500 Driver-in-the-Loop simulator enables Bridgestone to assess tire performance in a fully virtual environment.

The simulator features a large mobile platform with a five-meter range of motion and a carbon-fiber cockpit, immersing the driver in a hyper-realistic environment that imitates real-world driving. This range of motion enables the reproduction of forces equivalent to physical tests, allowing for highly accurate analysis. Combining high-fidelity simulations with subjective driver feedback – alongside historical data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies – this new capability allows for earlier and more accurate design decisions. It enables Bridgestone to evaluate a significantly larger number of tire specifications than traditional physical testing and in less time, across a broader range of conditions. Physical testing, which remains a crucial part of Bridgestone’s development process, can now be reserved for the final stages of tire validation.

The introduction of the DiM500 is expected to significantly reduce the need for physical tire prototypes, with Bridgestone estimating savings of up to 12,000 experimental tires annually and a corresponding reduction in environmental impact.

“Bridgestone is already considered a pioneer in digital tire development – leveraging Virtual Tire Development for more than a decade. By integrating the driver into the digital development cycle, this investment adds a crucial new piece to our evolving ecosystem,” said Mattia Giustiniano, R&D Senior Vice President at Bridgestone West. “The simulator’s introduction marks a significant step in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of our R&D processes, while unlocking unprecedented opportunities to foster innovation.”

“We are pleased to see the DiM500 fully operational at Bridgestone’s R&D Centre,” added Alessio Lombardi, Global Sales Director – Simulation at VI-grade. “Driver-in-the-Loop simulation plays an increasingly important role in connecting subjective driver feedback with high-fidelity simulation, helping engineering teams make earlier and more informed decisions within the virtual development process.”

Tokyo, Japan, February 20th, 2026 – VI-grade the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced a new collaboration with SOLIZE Ureka Technology, in partnership with Concurrent Nippon Corporation, the Japanese subsidiary of VI-grade, to advance the development of autonomous driving simulation environments. As part of the collaboration, the companies will jointly develop a demonstration scenario based on a racetrack environment to showcase the capabilities of advanced simulation for autonomous driving applications.

SOLIZE Ureka Technology introduced its driving simulator in 2021 to evaluate autonomous driving performance at the full vehicle level and to support the development of autonomous driving control algorithms. The simulator integrates several solutions from the VI-grade technology portfolio, including the high-resolution graphic environment VI-WorldSim and the AutoHawk Real-Time Hardware-in-the-Loop platform.

By leveraging VI-grade’s proven expertise in driving simulation, SOLIZE Ureka Technology can efficiently develop and validate the control algorithms required for autonomous driving functions, including trajectory planning, target speed calculation, and the determination of steering, throttle, and braking inputs needed to safely execute driving maneuvers. The simulator is installed at SOLIZE Ureka Technology’s Tokyo office and is used to support ongoing research and development activities.

“VI-grade’s driving simulation environment supports our research and development efforts across a wide range of applications. Through this collaboration, we are confident that we will be able to combine the strengths of both companies and deliver advanced engineering solutions to a broader customer base,” said Yoshiki Yasuno, MBD C&M Business Unit at SOLIZE Ureka Technology.

“We are pleased to see SOLIZE Ureka Technology actively using our technology and already achieving strong results,” said Toru Yoshii, Japan Country Manager at VI-grade. “VI-grade’s simulation solutions complement their existing development environment and enable SOLIZE Ureka Technology to further enhance their ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.”

Novi, MI, USA – February 18th , 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the installation of its HyperDock cockpit at Multimatic, marking the first HyperDock system deployed in North America. Installed at Multimatic’s Vehicle Dynamics Center in Novi, Michigan, the HyperDock elevates the existing DiM250 driving simulator, originally installed in 2020, into a full-spectrum simulation platform, enabling the combined development of vehicle dynamics and NVH attributes within a single, immersive environment. The system will make its official debut during a dedicated Open House event on March 11, 2026.

The HyperDock cockpit is an ultra-lightweight, carbon-fiber system engineered to significantly improve stiffness, reduce inertia, and enhance simulator responsiveness. By replacing the traditional top disk with a direct actuator interface and integrating vibro-acoustic feedback, HyperDock enables engineers to evaluate ride, handling, and noise-and-vibration behavior with increased realism and precision.

“After evaluating the VI-grade HyperDock Full Spectrum Simulator cockpit at the SimCenter Udine over a year ago, Multimatic quickly realized that it would provide a significant step forward in the fidelity of all DiM applications, from road car ride tuning to race car limit handling. The overwhelmingly positive responses from Murray White, Technical Director of Vehicle Development at Multimatic, and Dirk Müller, professional race car driver, affirmed Multimatic’s decision to upgrade to HyperDock”, commented Peter Gibbons, Technical Director Vehicle Dynamics at Multimatic. “The added immersion, superior tactile feedback, and audio advancements have moved the goalposts well beyond our expectations. Multimatic looks forward to continuing to leverage the impressive capabilities of HyperDock over the coming years.”

“With the addition of HyperDock, Multimatic now benefits from full-spectrum simulation capability, expanding the scope of development activities that can be performed on an already well-established simulator platform,” said Alessio Lombardi, Global Sales Director – Simulation at VI-grade. “This installation represents an important milestone for VI-grade, as it brings HyperDock technology to North America for the first time.”

To mark the installation, VI-grade and Multimatic will host a dedicated reveal event on March 11, 2026, at the Multimatic Vehicle Dynamics Center in Novi, Michigan. The event will offer invited attendees the opportunity to see the HyperDock cockpit live and explore full-spectrum simulation workflows. Registration is free-of-charge and available on the event landing page at /en/about/events/users_conferences/vehicle-dynamics-center-open-house-2026-novi-mi-usa/ (limited seats available). 

Imola, Italy, February 11th, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, announced today that the newly established PITLab – Performance of Innovative Mobility Test Laboratory, located at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola –  has selected VI-grade’s COMPACT Simulator to support advanced research in sustainable and safe mobility. Officially inaugurated on February 6th, PITLab is a joint research laboratory of the University of Bologna and Formula Imola S.p.A., bridging academic research and industrial application. Embedded within the Imola racetrack infrastructure, the laboratory offers a unique environment for closely integrating simulated and real-world testing.

PITLab’s simulation capabilities are anchored by VI-grade’s COMPACT Simulator, a compact, high-fidelity driving simulator that delivers realistic driver-in-the-loop (DIL) experiences within a reduced footprint. The simulator features a complete driving station, including an adjustable driver’s seat, steering wheel, pedals, gear selector and visual display, enabling advanced vehicle dynamics evaluation in office or research environments.

Integrated into the VI-grade simulation ecosystem, the COMPACT Simulator enables research in vehicle behavior, driver interaction, infrastructure design and mobility safety, enabling early virtual testing and digital twin development. This approach allows researchers to analyze driver behavior and vehicle responses in controlled, repeatable and safe conditions, while reducing development time and costs.

“PITLab’s mission and vision fully align with the Smart Prototypes philosophy of VI-grade and HBK,” said Guido Bairati, Vice President Global Sales, HBK. “Integrating the VI-grade COMPACT Simulator into this research environment, closely aligned with real industrial needs, enables digital twin development within the VI-grade ecosystem, supporting the safe and cost-effective creation of solutions for tomorrow’s mobility challenges.”

“The inauguration of this joint research laboratory further strengthens the collaboration between the University of Bologna and the Imola racetrack,” said Valeria Vignali, Director of PITLab. “With state-of-the-art equipment and PITLab’s expertise, we can address key challenges in sustainable mobility and road safety using advanced methods that integrate simulation with on-track testing to deliver impactful solutions.”

“Hosting PITLab represents an important step in the evolution of the Imola circuit,” added Pietro Benvenuti, General Manager of Formula Imola S.p.A.. “Beyond motorsport, the Autodromo is increasingly positioned as a platform for innovation, experimentation and knowledge creation. This project reinforces the link between the racetrack, the territory and the academic world, contributing to the development of safer, more sustainable and more inclusive mobility solutions.”