By Abbi Gabli, intern, GM News
Last week, I finally got to solve a little mystery that's been bugging me since I was a kid growing up in suburban Detroit. What happens behind the gates of General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground? GM hosted their 2025 Employee Day at the site, and I had the chance to step inside.
Living just 10 minutes away from the facility all my life made my fascination grow. Every time my family drove past, I’d wonder what happened there and why they needed that much space — the site is about 4,000 acres. The wall of trees felt so mysterious, and it was an instant point of curiosity. I needed to know what was behind them.
As I got older and I would drive around at night – even when it was pitch black outside — I’d look out towards the glow of bright lights in the sky from the Milford Proving Ground. My curiosity about what was happening within the facility only grew, but I became resigned to the fact that I’d never find out what was going on there.
When I learned this past winter that I had been chosen as a global communications intern at GM, it felt like a dream come true. The opportunity to work for the company that had sparked my curiosity for so many years was exciting. I began my internship with the GM News editorial team this past May, ready to dive into this exciting new chapter.
My internship offered me the chance to attend Employee Day at Milford – which gave me a chance to finally solve my lifelong quest to figure out what was going on behind the fences and the trees.
Driving through the gates as I began my self-guided tour of the grounds felt surreal. The sheer scale of the facility left me speechless; it felt less like a testing site and more like a city. The size was beyond anything I could have imagined, with huge test tracks, steep hills, and long straightaways – the site actually has nearly 150 miles of paved roads. As the tour came to a pause and I entered the main event, which showed off GM cars both past and present, I could tell right away this was more than a tour; it felt like an open invitation to be part of GM’s vibrant community.
Being surrounded by so many GM employees made me feel the strong sense of belonging that this company fosters. It reminded me of Michigan State University, where I’m about to enter my junior year, and the sense of community that is always present during large events. I experienced a similar sense of connection here: everyone was approachable, eager to share their experiences, and genuinely supportive of my internship journey. It made me feel like I belonged.
Riding shotgun in a 1978 Buick Estate station wagon.
As the event continued, I got to check out GM’s amazing lineup of vehicles. It wasn’t just about seeing the new models up close; I had the chance to ride in some of our heritage cars. Being able to see how far we’ve come as a company was such a cool experience. You hear about how the car market has evolved, but going from riding in a classic, wood-paneled station wagon to sitting in a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette really brought GM’s journey to life for me.
There was also an area where employees had the chance to test drive GM’s latest lineup of vehicles, from our sleek all-electric SUVs to capable gas-powered trucks. It’s one thing to hear about a product in meetings or read an article about them, but it’s completely different to be able to see them in person.
Outside of this event, GM is also giving our manufacturing employees the chance to get hands-on experience with our impressive lineup firsthand, including both EVs and ICE vehicles. Taking place across all of our U.S. manufacturing plants through September of this year, these initiatives aim to foster a deeper connection with the products employees help bring to life.
Checking out the 2025 Cadillac CELESTIQ.
The Milford event concluded with a continuation of the self-guided tour that started my visit, allowing me to explore even more of the site. I was once again struck by the massive size of the campus, where at times, it felt as though I could see the whole site from a single empty road.
Solving the lifelong mystery that had fascinated me as a child was incredibly rewarding, bringing a sense of closure for my younger self. It brings back a piece of me I haven’t seen in a while, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in GM’s 2025 Employee Day and uncover a piece of my past in such a meaningful way.
Check out more about Milford Proving Ground:
Last week, I finally got to solve a little mystery that's been bugging me since I was a kid growing up in suburban Detroit. What happens behind the gates of General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground? GM hosted their 2025 Employee Day at the site, and I had the chance to step inside.
Living just 10 minutes away from the facility all my life made my fascination grow. Every time my family drove past, I’d wonder what happened there and why they needed that much space — the site is about 4,000 acres. The wall of trees felt so mysterious, and it was an instant point of curiosity. I needed to know what was behind them.
As I got older and I would drive around at night – even when it was pitch black outside — I’d look out towards the glow of bright lights in the sky from the Milford Proving Ground. My curiosity about what was happening within the facility only grew, but I became resigned to the fact that I’d never find out what was going on there.
When I learned this past winter that I had been chosen as a global communications intern at GM, it felt like a dream come true. The opportunity to work for the company that had sparked my curiosity for so many years was exciting. I began my internship with the GM News editorial team this past May, ready to dive into this exciting new chapter.
My internship offered me the chance to attend Employee Day at Milford – which gave me a chance to finally solve my lifelong quest to figure out what was going on behind the fences and the trees.
Driving through the gates as I began my self-guided tour of the grounds felt surreal. The sheer scale of the facility left me speechless; it felt less like a testing site and more like a city. The size was beyond anything I could have imagined, with huge test tracks, steep hills, and long straightaways – the site actually has nearly 150 miles of paved roads. As the tour came to a pause and I entered the main event, which showed off GM cars both past and present, I could tell right away this was more than a tour; it felt like an open invitation to be part of GM’s vibrant community.
Being surrounded by so many GM employees made me feel the strong sense of belonging that this company fosters. It reminded me of Michigan State University, where I’m about to enter my junior year, and the sense of community that is always present during large events. I experienced a similar sense of connection here: everyone was approachable, eager to share their experiences, and genuinely supportive of my internship journey. It made me feel like I belonged.
As the event continued, I got to check out GM’s amazing lineup of vehicles. It wasn’t just about seeing the new models up close; I had the chance to ride in some of our heritage cars. Being able to see how far we’ve come as a company was such a cool experience. You hear about how the car market has evolved, but going from riding in a classic, wood-paneled station wagon to sitting in a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette really brought GM’s journey to life for me.
There was also an area where employees had the chance to test drive GM’s latest lineup of vehicles, from our sleek all-electric SUVs to capable gas-powered trucks. It’s one thing to hear about a product in meetings or read an article about them, but it’s completely different to be able to see them in person.
Outside of this event, GM is also giving our manufacturing employees the chance to get hands-on experience with our impressive lineup firsthand, including both EVs and ICE vehicles. Taking place across all of our U.S. manufacturing plants through September of this year, these initiatives aim to foster a deeper connection with the products employees help bring to life.
The Milford event concluded with a continuation of the self-guided tour that started my visit, allowing me to explore even more of the site. I was once again struck by the massive size of the campus, where at times, it felt as though I could see the whole site from a single empty road.
Solving the lifelong mystery that had fascinated me as a child was incredibly rewarding, bringing a sense of closure for my younger self. It brings back a piece of me I haven’t seen in a while, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in GM’s 2025 Employee Day and uncover a piece of my past in such a meaningful way.
Check out more about Milford Proving Ground:
- 20 facts about Milford Proving Ground, GM's century-old test site
- Why GM president Mark Reuss loves visiting Milford Proving Ground