Every car goes through a battery of tests before they are rolled out into the market.
Some of these tests include driving in extreme conditions such as in ice and freezing temperatures.
The town of Arjeplog in Swedish Lapland.
But testing ABS proved difficult in the mountains because brake tests required wide and open spaces.
But public roads were not safe enough for testing brakes.
Test tracks on the surface of the lake.
On the frozen lake the drivers could test the systems various parameter options without major risks.
In the worst-case scenario, colleagues pulled damaged cars out of snowdrifts using other vehicles.
The testers simply had to watch out in case two cars got in each others way.
Construction of the tracks begins in December when the ice is around 5-10 cm thick.
As the ice continues to thicken, different fleets of vehicles are sent out to prepare the tracks.
At that thickness, the ice can hold up to 25 tons.
Such careful cultivation can result in ice thickness in excess of 1 meter.
Arjeplog has a number of hotels to cater to the winter guests.
Each automaker has its own warehouses, driving schools, and tracks that need prepping.
For such a small, remote place its amazingly important to the industry.
