Global
Automotive Research Centre (GARC) Strengthens EV & Safety Testing
·
Located in Oragadam, Chennai, under
the National
Automotive Board.
·
Authorized testing agency for vehicle/component R&D, homologation, certification.
·
Government scheme with ₹10,900 crore outlay (₹780
crore for testing agencies).
·
Operational till 31 March 2028.
·
GARC allocated ₹221.13 crore; purchase
orders issued for equipment.
·
EV &
Battery Testing (AIS-156).
·
EV EMI/EMC
Testing
(AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1).
·
Heavy Commercial
Vehicle Testing Facility.
·
Powertrain
Lab Upgradation.
·
Advanced
Passive Safety Testing (crash dummies, calibration).
·
ADAS Testing (instruments,
soft targets).
·
Automotive
Component Testing.
·
High-speed
imaging system: UHD-4K cameras (750 fps) & Full HD (3,000
fps).
·
Enables detailed crash analysis: vehicle deformation, occupant movement, airbag
deployment.
·
Boosts India’s indigenous EV and advanced vehicle testing
capacity.
·
Strengthens role of GARC as a national hub for automotive R&D and certification.
·
Supports India’s vision for a safe, advanced, globally competitive automotive
industry.
[ABS News Service/29.09.2026]
The Global Automotive Research Centre
(GARC), Oragadam, Chennai, functioning under the National
Automotive Board, Ministry of Heavy Industries, is an authorized testing agency
under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. GARC provides vehicle and component
testing, R&D, homologation and certification through facilities covering powertrain,
emissions, EMC, fatigue, electric vehicles and safety testing.
Under the Government of India’s PM Electric
Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, GARC
is upgrading its testing infrastructure to strengthen capabilities for emerging
electric and advanced vehicle technologies. The PM E-DRIVE Scheme has an outlay
of ₹10,900 crore, including ₹780 crore for upgrading testing agencies,
and is operational up to 31 March 2028.
GARC Progress
GARC has been allocated ₹221.13 crore and has issued
purchase orders for almost all proposed equipment. Major facilities being established
or upgraded include:
·
Electric Vehicle and EV Battery Testing as per AIS-156
·
EV EMI/EMC Testing under AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1
·
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Testing Facility
·
Powertrain Laboratory Upgradation
·
Advanced Passive Safety Testing, including dummies and dummy calibration
equipment
·
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Testing, including instruments
and soft targets
·
Automotive Component Testing
Installation of the procured equipment
has commenced. A key addition is the high-speed, high-resolution imaging system,
with UHD-4K cameras operating up to 750 fps and Full HD recording up to 3,000 fps.
The system will support frontal, side and rear crash testing by capturing critical
events such as vehicle deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment, enabling
detailed safety analysis and homologation.
Supporting India’s Next-Generation Automotive
Ecosystem
The PM E-DRIVE-supported infrastructure
at GARC represents an important step towards strengthening India's indigenous testing
and certification capabilities for electric vehicles, batteries, advanced safety
systems, ADAS, heavy commercial vehicles and emerging automotive technologies.
Through these investments, GARC is further
strengthening its role as a national automotive testing and research centre and
contributing to the development of a safe, technologically advanced and globally
competitive Indian automotive industry.