Novi (MI), US, July 8th, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, together with HBK, today announced the Smart Prototypes Summit 2026 – North America, taking place on September 15–16, 2026, at the Multimatic Vehicle Dynamics Center in Novi, Michigan. Building on the success of the inaugural Smart Prototypes Summit held in Italy earlier this year, HBK and VI-grade are bringing the Smart Testing experience to North America. Attendance is free of charge, and registration is now open.

The North American edition builds on the momentum of the Summit debut in Italy, which drew more than 320 in-person attendees from across the automotive, motorsport, commercial vehicle, tire, and technology sectors. Under the theme "Beyond Zero: Welcome to the Smart Era," the two-day event showcases the latest innovations in Smart Testing through customer presentations, technical sessions, live demonstrations, and networking – all focused on one question: how simulation and physical testing, working together, enable faster and more confident engineering decisions. The venue is a draw in its own right. The Multimatic Vehicle Dynamics Center houses one of North America's leading Driver-in-the-Loop simulation facilities, featuring the DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator, recently upgraded with VI-grade's HyperDock cockpit for Full Spectrum Simulation. Attendees will see the facility in action alongside live demonstrations of HBK's durability and reliability solutions – a rare opportunity to evaluate these technologies firsthand rather than simply reading about them on a spec sheet.

Day one focuses on VI-grade's simulation-driven vehicle development technologies, with live demonstrations, technical presentations, and customer success stories spanning vehicle dynamics, NVH, Hardware-in-the-Loop, Driver-in-the-Loop simulation, and ADAS. The day concludes with an informal networking reception where attendees can exchange ideas with peers and industry experts. Day two features dedicated HBK nCode and ReliaSoft User Group sessions, bringing together engineers specializing in durability, fatigue analysis, reliability engineering, and product validation to share practical applications and best practices for improving engineering efficiency and strengthening test-to-simulation correlation.

"The Smart Prototypes Summit was created to be more than a showcase of technology; it's about bringing together the engineering community to shape the future of testing," said Guido Bairati, Vice President Global Sales, Simulation & Validation Business Unit at HBK. "What we witnessed in Italy confirmed that Smart Testing is no longer a vision for the future; it's already transforming how vehicles are developed today. By bringing the Summit to North America, we're creating another opportunity for OEMs, suppliers, technology partners, and research organizations to share experiences, connect virtual and physical testing, and accelerate the transition toward smarter, more data-driven engineering."

Attendance is free of charge, but seating is limited and early registration is recommended. For more information and to register, visit the event landing page.

Udine, Italy, July 2nd, 2026 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the availability of the 2026.2 release of its flagship software suite, introducing significant enhancements across VI-CarRealTime, VI-DriveSim, VI-NVHSim, and VI-WorldSim. The latest release further strengthens the VI-grade simulation ecosystem with new capabilities for real-time vehicle dynamics simulation, immersive Driver-in-the-Loop testing, NVH engineering, and high-fidelity virtual environment development. Designed to improve simulation fidelity, streamline engineering workflows, and accelerate virtual vehicle development, the 2026.2 release is now available for download through the reserved area of the VI-grade website.

Among the key enhancements, VI-CarRealTime introduces a new thermal braking model that accurately represents brake temperature and friction behavior, together with brake pedal force modeling for increased driver realism. The release also expands support for Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs), extends optimization capabilities, and further enhances suspension compliance modeling and actuator functionality.

VI-DriveSim expands Full Spectrum Simulation capabilities with new FIR filters for real-time fine-tuning. Engineers also benefit from web-based session reporting, simplified simulator project management, new dashboard layouts and test environments cloning function from the UI, expanded hardware compatibility, and tighter integration with VI-WorldSim.

The latest VI-NVHSim release introduces the new Target Analyser, providing engineers with an integrated environment for recording comparison, validation and status reporting. Additional enhancements include improved On-Road Simulator workflows, expanded sound design capabilities through Audiokinetic Wwise Automotive integration, enhanced Harman Halosonic support, and significant improvements to data preparation, including new order validation and RPM autotracking capabilities.

For VI-WorldSim, the 2026.2 release upgrades the platform to Unreal Engine 5.7.4, delivering improved rendering quality and performance. A new Event Manager introduces more flexible scenario scripting with advanced conditions and actions, while additional improvements include higher-fidelity traffic simulation, enhanced sensor editing tools, visible racing trajectories for Driver-in-the-Loop applications, support for non-standard display configurations, and compatibility with the latest RoadRunner release.

The VI-grade 2026.2 software release, along with a comprehensive list of new features and enhancements, is now available for download. Registered users can access it by logging into the reserved area of the VI-grade website.

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.”