The Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), Oragadam, Chennai, is strengthening India’s automotive testing and certification capabilities under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, with ₹221.13 crore allocated for upgrading its testing infrastructure.
GARC, functioning under the National Automotive Board of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, is an authorised testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. It provides vehicle and component testing, research and development, homologation and certification across areas including powertrain, emissions, electromagnetic compatibility, fatigue, electric vehicles and vehicle safety.
₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme
The PM E-DRIVE Scheme has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore, including ₹780 crore for upgrading testing agencies. The scheme is operational until March 31, 2028.
As part of the initiative, GARC has been allocated ₹221.13 crore and has issued purchase orders for almost all the proposed equipment. Installation of the procured equipment has also commenced.
The upgraded infrastructure will expand GARC’s capabilities in testing electric vehicles, batteries, advanced safety systems, heavy commercial vehicles and other emerging automotive technologies.
Focus on EV and advanced automotive technologies
Major facilities being established or upgraded at GARC include Electric Vehicle and EV Battery Testing facilities as per AIS-156, and EV EMI/EMC Testing under AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1.
The centre is also developing a Heavy Commercial Vehicle Testing Facility and upgrading its Powertrain Laboratory.
In the area of vehicle safety, GARC is establishing advanced Passive Safety Testing facilities, including advanced dummies and dummy calibration equipment. It is also strengthening Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Testing with specialised instruments and soft targets.
The infrastructure upgrade further includes facilities for automotive component testing.
High-speed cameras for crash testing
A key addition to GARC’s upgraded testing infrastructure is a high-speed, high-resolution imaging system designed to support detailed crash analysis.
The system includes UHD-4K cameras capable of operating at up to 750 frames per second, along with Full HD recording at up to 3,000 frames per second.
The technology will be used during frontal, side and rear crash testing, capturing critical events such as vehicle deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment.
The high-speed imaging capability is expected to provide detailed data for safety analysis and vehicle homologation.
Strengthening indigenous testing capabilities
The PM E-DRIVE-supported infrastructure at GARC is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous capabilities in automotive testing and certification.
With expanded facilities for electric vehicles, batteries, advanced safety systems, ADAS, heavy commercial vehicles and emerging automotive technologies, GARC is further consolidating its role as a national automotive testing and research centre.
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to support the development of safer and technologically advanced vehicles while contributing to the competitiveness of India’s automotive industry.
