VI-grade’s 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit Sets New Attendance Record and Showcases Innovation in Virtual Vehicle Development
Udine, Italy, May 22nd, 2025 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the successful conclusion of its 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. Held from May 13 – 15 at VI-grade’s SimCenter in Udine, Italy, the event attracted over 1,500 participants – nearly 300 attending in person and more than 1,200 joining via livestream – marking the largest and most impactful Summit to date.
Now in its fourth edition at VI-grade’s main technology hub, the ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit has become a global benchmark point for innovation in virtual vehicle development. In a year of transformation across the automotive industry, the 2025 Summit provided a vital platform for collaboration - bringing together representatives from 24 major automotive OEMs, 17 Tier 1 suppliers and engineering service providers, 6 academic and research institutions, and supported by 27 industry sponsors. This diverse and engaged participation highlights the Summit’s growing importance in uniting all key stakeholders around a common vision for simulation-driven development. The official after movie, capturing the spirit of the 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, is available at this link.
The proven event format once again combined hands-on demonstrations, technical presentations, and networking opportunities, resulting in 989 hands-on demo sessions delivered across VI-grade’s software, driving simulators, and HiL solutions. In parallel, 24 customer presentations highlighted real-world applications of VI-grade technology, featuring speakers from companies including Alpine, Applus+ IDIADA & Hyundai METC, Aston Martin Lagonda, Automobili Lamborghini, Brembo, Bridgestone EMIA, CATL & HORIBA MIRA, EDAG Group, Ferrari, Ford Werke, HBK nCode, Honda R&D, Multimatic, Pirelli & MegaRide, Porsche Engineering, S&VL & SUBARU, Stellantis & Meccanica 42, T.R.E Team Rosberg Engineering, the Automotive Solution Center for Simulation (ASCS), and Volvo Cars.
The Summit featured two major product launches:
“In times of change, the industry’s commitment to advancing simulation-first development is stronger than ever,” said Gabriele Ferrarotti, Sr. Marketing Director at VI-grade. “The success of this year’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit is not only reflected in record-breaking attendance, but also in the quality of engagement, the collaborative spirit on display, and the shared belief that virtual development is the way forward. We are proud to see the Summit evolving into a global benchmark showing how simulation-driven development can unite innovation, resilience, and collaboration on a worldwide scale.”
Building on the success of the flagship event in Italy, VI-grade will expand the ZERO Prototypes vision to other key regions:
VI-grade gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit sponsors:
Now in its fourth edition at VI-grade’s main technology hub, the ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit has become a global benchmark point for innovation in virtual vehicle development. In a year of transformation across the automotive industry, the 2025 Summit provided a vital platform for collaboration - bringing together representatives from 24 major automotive OEMs, 17 Tier 1 suppliers and engineering service providers, 6 academic and research institutions, and supported by 27 industry sponsors. This diverse and engaged participation highlights the Summit’s growing importance in uniting all key stakeholders around a common vision for simulation-driven development. The official after movie, capturing the spirit of the 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, is available at this link.
The proven event format once again combined hands-on demonstrations, technical presentations, and networking opportunities, resulting in 989 hands-on demo sessions delivered across VI-grade’s software, driving simulators, and HiL solutions. In parallel, 24 customer presentations highlighted real-world applications of VI-grade technology, featuring speakers from companies including Alpine, Applus+ IDIADA & Hyundai METC, Aston Martin Lagonda, Automobili Lamborghini, Brembo, Bridgestone EMIA, CATL & HORIBA MIRA, EDAG Group, Ferrari, Ford Werke, HBK nCode, Honda R&D, Multimatic, Pirelli & MegaRide, Porsche Engineering, S&VL & SUBARU, Stellantis & Meccanica 42, T.R.E Team Rosberg Engineering, the Automotive Solution Center for Simulation (ASCS), and Volvo Cars.
The Summit featured two major product launches:
- HexaRev, VI-grade’s most advanced motion system to date, delivers smoother, more precise, and immersive driver-in-the-loop experiences. With a novel mechanical design that eliminates belts, gears, and ball-screws, HexaRev offers a significantly expanded and more efficient motion envelope, particularly during complex, multi-axis maneuvers.
- VI-DataDrive Cloud, a new cloud-based simulation and data processing ecosystem, drastically reduces run times for high-fidelity vehicle models while supporting scalable and collaborative workflows. As a core pillar of VI-grade’s “Zero Prototype Lab” vision, VI-DataDrive Cloud enables efficient engineering at scale through AI-powered digital twins.
“In times of change, the industry’s commitment to advancing simulation-first development is stronger than ever,” said Gabriele Ferrarotti, Sr. Marketing Director at VI-grade. “The success of this year’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit is not only reflected in record-breaking attendance, but also in the quality of engagement, the collaborative spirit on display, and the shared belief that virtual development is the way forward. We are proud to see the Summit evolving into a global benchmark showing how simulation-driven development can unite innovation, resilience, and collaboration on a worldwide scale.”
Building on the success of the flagship event in Italy, VI-grade will expand the ZERO Prototypes vision to other key regions:
- On June 12, the North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Day will take place at Multimatic’s SimCenter in Novi, Michigan.
- On September 12, VI-grade will host the Japanese edition of the ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit at the Shinagawa Center in Tokyo.
VI-grade gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2025 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit sponsors:
- Diamond: EDAG Group
- Platinum: Applus+ IDIADA, Dassault Systèmes, Hexagon, HORIBA MIRA, MdynamiX, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Rebel Dynamics, SAGInoMIYA
- Gold: ASCS, Barco, ICT AG, Multimatic
- Silver: 3D Mapping Solutions, Fraunhofer Institut ITWM, Gamma Technologies, Lifetouch, New Eagle, project: syntropy, RE:LAB, Rohde & Schwarz, Smart Eye, STEP Lab
- Bronze: BE CAE & Test, JEDAi, MOOG
- Media Partners: ATZ, Automotive Testing Technology International, engineering.com. SAE Media Group, Vehicle Dynamics International
German version available here