can be driven at its posted speed all the way around the circle without needing to touch the steering wheel, given proper wheel alignment and tire pressures. The track surface is extremely hard "dolomite" concrete for wear resistance. The North/South Straightaway is in total length and includes two straightaways The East/West Straightaway is around and includes two 1.2 mi (1.9 km) straightaways "Seven Sisters" is a short course featuring seven tight curves, some level, some banked. It is one lane that can be driven in both directions, so only one car is allowed on the course at a time. This is used for testing vehicles under transient lateral acceleration loads. 12 Mile Road is a straight section of pavement which duplicates the historical surface texture of a section of 12 Mile Road near Detroit. The Ride and Handling loop is enclosed by the Circle Track and has varied surfaces and turns. The Vehicle Safety & Crashworthiness Lab includes a recently added rollover test facility. Cupuán Proving Ground General Motors Proving Ground Cupuan del Rio is situated between Lázaro Cárdenas and Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. The facility opened in 2006 and features a circle track, several off-road courses, and is primarily used for testing HVAC systems. As of 2011 the grounds are mostly abandoned, and only a local security staff remains. This is due to the volatile, potentially unsafe situation in the region and the access routes to/from Cupuán. South America Cruz Alta Proving Ground, Brazil General Motors Cruz Alta Proving Ground at Indaiatuba, Brazil Founded in 1974 Proving Ground facilities It is the largest and most comprehensive proving ground in Latin America, and the second largest in the General Motors Corporation. It comprises the most advanced test tracks, which precisely replicate the most varied and demanding road conditions. GM do Brasil is committed to the preservation of forests and the animal species that live there. Cruz Alta Proving Ground for example, has test roads and tracks that sit amid a forest reserve of , including of reforested trees. The Proving Ground also features of Atlantic Forest original vegetation; 10,000 planted fruit trees and more than of lawns. In addition, GM do Brasil recently partnered with IBAMA, the Brazilian Environment Protection Agency, to monitor the abundant proliferation of capybaras at that location. Europe Testzentrum Dudenhofen Opel operates a proving ground near Dudenhofen, Germany , opened in 1964. Facilities include a high-speed circuit,