A Golden Milestone for Safety
Safety regulations are a major concern for automakers, as poor crash-test results can affect a model’s reputation and even lead to changes in how it is sold in certain markets, as seen recently with the Suzuki Swift in Australia. As one of the world’s largest automakers, Stellantis addresses this through facilities such as its Orbassano Safety Center in Italy, which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Orbassano Safety Center is Stellantis’ automotive safety research and testing hub, conducting crash tests at a roughly 1.18-million-square-foot facility with four dedicated crash-test tracks and four impact points. It supports the automaker’s 14 brands – including Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and others not sold in the U.S., such as Peugeot and Opel – by testing vehicle structures and safety systems.
Capturing Every Millisecond
One of the facility’s recent additions is a computer-controlled camera-positioning system with 13 mobile units. It is combined with high-speed underbody video capture and five onboard cameras, allowing engineers to thoroughly evaluate vehicles during crash tests.
As a result, the now 50-year-old Orbassano Safety Center can certify vehicles as compliant with more than 175 international safety and technology standards, including those in markets operating under self-certification frameworks.
Emanuele Cappellano, COO of Stellantis Enlarged Europe, commented on the milestone, saying, “Today we celebrate the first 50 years of a facility whose mission has always been to protect people by advancing vehicle safety. The Orbassano Safety Center represents an example of engineering excellence and innovation that continues to set standards within Stellantis and across the industry.”
A Global Safety Network
So far, the Orbassano Safety Center has conducted more than 24,000 crash tests, along with thousands of digital simulations. It is part of an integrated global safety network that also includes a facility in Chelsea, in the state of Michigan – home to Stellantis’ North American operations – as well as centers in Belchamps, France, and Betim, Brazil.
With safety regulations continuing to tighten and evolve, having a dedicated crash-testing program like the Orbassano Safety Center can be a major advantage. After all, safety ratings are often a factor in consumers’ car-buying decisions. However, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – an independent organization that evaluates vehicles sold in the U.S. through crash tests – no Stellantis models earned even a Top Safety Pick award in 2025.
