CATARC Southern Proving Ground Opens: a Key Piece for Hong Kong's Low-Altitude Economy

Recently, the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) announced the official opening of its Southern Proving Ground. Located in Guangdong Province, this facility is China's first national-level "Road-Air Integration" testing base. Its services cover four major product categories (intelligent connected vehicles, low-altitude aircraft, new energy vehicles, and complete vehicles) and over 100 testing scenarios, with testing capabilities up to a maximum speed of 280 km/h and a maximum altitude of 1,200 meters.

For Hong Kong users, the opening of this proving ground might seem distant, but it is highly relevant. As the "low-altitude economy" is mentioned in the government work report for the first time, as flying cars transition from science fiction to reality, and as Hong Kong actively explores its own path for developing the low-altitude economy, the Southern Proving Ground provides a crucial technology validation platform.

Technological Breakthrough: From Single-Domain Testing to Cross-Field Integration

The core innovation of the Southern Proving Ground is its "Road-Air Integration" positioning. Traditional automotive test tracks only test cars; aviation test fields only test aircraft. The Southern Proving Ground bridges these domains, enabling cross-field collaborative validation for hybrid products like intelligent connected vehicles, flying cars, and eVTOLs.

The facility's hardware is impressive: an 8.5 km high-speed oval track supporting speeds up to 280 km/h for extreme performance tests; a 300-meter-diameter dynamic plaza (China's largest) for handling and emergency maneuver tests; a 3,645 sqm integrated service hangar (a first for Chinese proving grounds) dedicated to low-altitude aircraft maintenance; plus six long taxiways, four or more vertical take-off and landing pads, 240kW ultra-fast chargers, 5G-A base stations, and a digital low-altitude supervision platform. This creates a comprehensive "closed-track testing – semi-public exploration – public demonstration" validation system.

The significance lies not just in providing venues but in accelerating technological iteration. For example, DiDi Auto's next-gen Robotaxi completed the industry's first autonomous driving durability and reliability test at the proving ground last July, validating its performance in complex conditions. This "test before road" model is essential for commercializing technology.

Strategic Significance: Filling a Gap, Accelerating Tech Deployment

Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President of CAAM, noted the proving ground fills a critical infrastructure gap in airworthiness validation and integrated safety. It systematically addresses long-standing challenges like "incomplete testing, inaccurate testing, and unclear testing methods" for cross-field products through its "testing + R&D + pilot + incubation" innovation chain.

For the industry, the proving ground will accelerate the iteration of intelligent connected vehicles and low-altitude aircraft. Automakers can conduct full-process tests from components to vehicles. Aircraft manufacturers can validate ground and flight scenarios. For integrated products, it enables testing of vehicle-aircraft-network-airspace coordination. This "one-stop" service reduces R&D cycles and validation costs.

Policymakers also benefit. National standards and regulations for intelligent vehicle access and airworthiness certification rely on real-world test data. As the first national-level "Road-Air Integration" base, data generated here will directly support the refinement of relevant laws and standards.

A Hong Kong Perspective: A Key Piece for the Low-Altitude Economy

For Hong Kong, the Southern Proving Ground's opening holds significant implications for developing its low-altitude economy.

The "low-altitude economy" was first highlighted as a new growth engine in the 2025 government work report. Guangdong's 2026 work report further supports cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai to build general aviation industry demonstration zones and establish a Greater Bay Area low-altitude economy industrial hub. As a key GBA city, Hong Kong is seeking its role in this emerging field.

Hong Kong's strengths include its international connectivity, advanced financial services, and strong research capabilities. However, its main weakness is the lack of adequate testing space and validation infrastructure. Land-scarce Hong Kong cannot easily build large-scale testing facilities – this is where the Southern Proving Ground becomes invaluable.

Located in Guangdong, just hours away, the proving ground offers Hong Kong institutions, manufacturers, and companies a readily available facility for testing and validation. This "Hong Kong R&D, Mainland Testing, GBA Application" model effectively addresses Hong Kong's spatial constraints.

Furthermore, the "Road-Air Integration" concept aligns well with Hong Kong's "Dual Cities, Three Circles" planning, particularly the "Innovation and Technology Zone" within the Northern Metropolis. Data and experience from the proving ground can inform Hong Kong's industrial strategy for low-altitude economy development.

Personal Opinion: From a Testing Facility to a Tech Ecosystem

The most striking aspect of the Southern Proving Ground is its evolution from a simple testing site into a "technology ecosystem."

Traditional proving grounds mainly served automakers. The Southern Proving Ground gathers a diverse community: automakers like GAC and BYD, mobility service providers like DiDi Auto, robotics firms like Huilun Technology, and various low-altitude aircraft manufacturers. This cross-field ecosystem embodies the core features of future transportation transformation.

For Hong Kong, the lesson is clear: developing a low-altitude economy requires a systemic view. It's not just about aircraft but about the coordinated "Road-Air Integration" system – the fusion of cars and aircraft, the interface between ground and air transport, the synergy between intelligent connected tech and airworthiness validation. This requires an open testing platform like the Southern Proving Ground.

On a broader scale, the proving ground's opening marks a crucial step in China's infrastructure development for intelligent connected vehicles and the low-altitude economy. For Hong Kong, this is both an opportunity and a challenge: an opportunity to leverage mainland facilities to accelerate its own tech deployment, and a challenge to expedite its own regulatory frameworks and supporting infrastructure.

The proving ground is open. Is Hong Kong's low-altitude economy ready?