Automotive & Commercial-Vehicle Proving Ground

A proposed high-desert platform for testing vehicles, components, systems, and next-generation freight technologies.

The Gallup-McKinley TradePort's proving-ground concept is intended to serve the broader automotive and commercial-vehicle industry, not only autonomous-vehicle developers. The proposed platform could support controlled testing, validation, demonstration, training, and limited deployment involving trucks, passenger vehicles, off-highway equipment, components, sensors, fuels, charging or fueling systems, and connected or automated technologies.

A Real-World High-Desert Setting

Gallup is located on Interstate 40, a major long-haul freight corridor, in a high-desert environment offering elevation, temperature variation, wind, solar intensity, dust, grades, and long-distance duty cycles. U.S. Highway 491 reaches toward the Four Corners, while nearby industrial sites create potential for secure yards, workshops, instrumentation, maintenance, fleet staging, and supplier operations.

  • Heavy-duty truck, trailer, bus, passenger-vehicle, and off-highway equipment testing
  • Brake, tire, suspension, drivetrain, thermal, battery, electronics, sensor, and safety systems
  • Connected and automated vehicle validation before public-road deployment
  • Electric, hydrogen, alternative-fuel, and conventional powertrain programs
  • Durability, thermal, dust, endurance, fleet, driver, and technician training

Part of a Larger Mobility Ecosystem

A proving ground could generate demand for engineering, fabrication, instrumentation, parts, maintenance, energy systems, data services, lodging, and long-term supplier locations. It could also connect with GELP, highway logistics, advanced-energy projects, the Gallup Municipal Airport area, and workforce training.

Help Shape the Facility

The proving ground remains a development concept to be advanced with anchor users and operating partners. Share your vehicles, test protocols, course features, acreage, workshop, data, energy, security, confidentiality, and schedule requirements with GGEDC.