THE HEAT IS ON

摘要

The Mojave desert in California is a sweltering place. Temperatures regularly exceed 40℃, and the baking sun makes the tarmac crack as if there's been seismic activity, Step out of an air-conditioned car and it's like breathing in hot air from a fire. Although it's a location that most of us would rather avoid, for engineers testing the durability of vehicles, it's the perfect environment, Which is why Kia has invested over $60 million to construct its 4,300-acre proving ground there, It's footprint dwarfs the company's other facilities located in Namyang and Hwasung, South Korea, which only take up 408 acres and 203 acres respectively, The size of the Mojave facility is proportionate to the importance of the North American market for the firm, It outstrips even Kia's domestic sales, so developing vehicles for American customers is incredibly important.