GARC Upgrades EV, ADAS and Crash Testing Facilities Under PM E-DRIVE Scheme

The Global Automotive Research Centre at Oragadam near Chennai is upgrading its automotive testing infrastructure under the Government of India’s PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement, or PM E-DRIVE, Scheme.

The expansion is aimed at strengthening India’s domestic capability to test and certify electric vehicles, EV batteries, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, heavy commercial vehicles, powertrains and modern automotive safety technologies.

GARC Strengthens Advanced Vehicle Testing Capabilities

GARC functions under the National Automotive Board of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and is an authorised testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The centre already provides vehicle and component testing, research and development, homologation and certification across powertrain, emissions, electromagnetic compatibility, fatigue, electric vehicles and automotive safety.

The latest upgrades are focused on technologies that are becoming increasingly important as the Indian automotive industry moves towards electrification, greater automation and higher safety standards.

₹221.13 Crore Allocated for GARC Upgradation

GARC has been allocated ₹221.13 crore under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme for modernising and expanding its testing facilities.

The broader PM E-DRIVE programme carries an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, including ₹780 crore for upgrading automotive testing agencies across the country. The scheme is operational until March 31, 2028.

GARC has already issued purchase orders for almost all of the proposed equipment, and installation has begun.

EV and Battery Testing Infrastructure Gets a Major Boost

A major part of the expansion is focused on electric vehicle and battery testing.

GARC is establishing and upgrading facilities to support EV battery testing in accordance with AIS-156, which covers safety requirements for traction batteries used in electric vehicles.

The centre is also strengthening its electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility testing capability under AIS-004 Part 3 Revision 1.

These facilities are becoming increasingly important as modern electric vehicles rely on high-voltage electrical systems, power electronics, sensors, communication networks and complex electronic control units.

ADAS Testing Facilities Being Added

GARC is also developing dedicated infrastructure for testing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

The new facilities will include specialised instruments and soft targets required to evaluate ADAS functions under controlled test conditions.

Such systems are increasingly being integrated into modern vehicles through cameras, radar, sensors and electronic control systems. Domestic testing capability will therefore be important for validating these technologies as their use expands in the Indian market.

Heavy Commercial Vehicle and Powertrain Testing to Expand

The PM E-DRIVE-supported programme also includes a dedicated Heavy Commercial Vehicle Testing Facility and the upgradation of GARC’s powertrain laboratory.

These facilities will support testing of larger vehicles and more advanced propulsion systems as India’s commercial vehicle sector adopts cleaner and more efficient technologies.

The expansion will also strengthen GARC’s role in testing vehicle components and systems across a wider range of automotive applications.

Advanced Passive Safety Testing Gets New Equipment

Passenger safety is another major focus of the modernisation programme.

GARC is upgrading its passive safety testing capabilities with advanced crash-test dummies, dummy calibration equipment and supporting instrumentation.

These systems will help the centre evaluate occupant protection during frontal, side and rear-impact tests while improving the quality of data available for homologation and safety assessment.

High-Speed 4K Cameras to Capture Crash Events

One of the most advanced additions is a new high-speed, high-resolution imaging system designed specifically for crash testing.

The system includes UHD 4K cameras capable of recording at up to 750 frames per second and Full HD cameras operating at up to 3,000 frames per second.

Such high-speed imaging allows engineers to study critical events that occur within fractions of a second during a collision, including vehicle deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment.

The footage can be analysed frame by frame, providing detailed information that supports vehicle safety development, crash analysis and homologation.

Automotive Component Testing Also Strengthened

GARC is expanding its automotive component testing capabilities alongside full-vehicle testing.

Component-level evaluation plays an important role in determining durability, performance and safety before technologies are integrated into production vehicles.

The upgraded infrastructure will allow manufacturers and developers to test a wider range of components within India, supporting faster validation and product development.

PM E-DRIVE Strengthens India’s Automotive Testing Ecosystem

The infrastructure being developed at GARC under PM E-DRIVE strengthens India’s indigenous capability to evaluate electric vehicles, batteries, ADAS, heavy commercial vehicles and advanced automotive safety systems.

As the Indian automotive industry moves towards electrification, connected systems and higher safety standards, access to modern domestic testing and certification facilities will become increasingly important.

The investment at GARC reinforces India’s ability to develop, validate and certify next-generation vehicle technologies within the country, supporting a safer, technologically advanced and globally competitive automotive industry.

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References

Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India — “GARC advances automotive testing under PM E-DRIVE,” September 28, 2026.

Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India — PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme.

Global Automotive Research Centre — Vehicle testing, homologation, certification and automotive research facilities.

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