Cars Will Now Face Tougher, Smarter Tests! Government Upgrades India's Vehicle Testing Facilities

India's automobile testing infrastructure is set for a major technology upgrade. New testing facilities are being developed at the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) in Oragadam, Chennai, under the government's PM E-DRIVE scheme.

The upgraded centre will strengthen India's ability to test electric vehicles, batteries, vehicle safety systems and emerging automotive technologies.

What is GARC?

The Global Automotive Research Centre operates under the National Automotive Board of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. It is a government-recognised facility involved in vehicle and component testing, certification, safety assessments and research into new automotive technologies.

With the latest expansion, GARC will be able to conduct a wider range of advanced tests on modern vehicles.

Government allocates over ₹221 crore

The government has allocated ₹221.13 crore specifically for the development of new testing facilities at GARC.

The investment is part of the larger PM E-DRIVE scheme, which has a total budget of ₹10,900 crore. The scheme includes ₹780 crore for upgrading testing agencies and is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2028.

Equipment procurement has already begun, with several orders placed and installation work underway.

EV batteries will undergo detailed testing

Electric vehicles require specialised testing, particularly when it comes to battery safety.

The upgraded facilities will allow GARC to evaluate EV batteries and their safety systems. Testing will also examine electromagnetic compatibility, helping ensure that the electronic systems inside electric vehicles do not interfere with one another.

This is increasingly important as modern cars rely on multiple electronic systems and sensors.

Trucks and buses will also be tested

The expansion isn't limited to passenger cars. New facilities are also being developed for testing heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses.

Engine and powertrain testing infrastructure is also being upgraded, allowing manufacturers to evaluate different vehicle technologies more extensively.

ADAS and safety systems get more attention

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, are becoming increasingly common in modern vehicles.

These systems can help drivers detect vehicles, pedestrians or obstacles and assist with functions such as braking and lane management.

The upgraded GARC facilities will support testing of such technologies along with other vehicle safety components.

Crash-testing infrastructure will also receive new equipment, including crash-test dummies and associated systems.

High-speed cameras will capture crashes in detail

One of the most interesting additions is a sophisticated high-speed camera system.

The new 4K cameras can reportedly capture up to 750 frames per second, while Full HD recording can reach up to 3,000 frames per second.

During crash tests, these cameras can capture movements that may be impossible to observe with the naked eye. Engineers can analyse how the vehicle's structure deforms, how occupants move during an impact and how quickly safety systems such as airbags deploy.

Such detailed footage can help manufacturers identify weaknesses and improve vehicle safety.

A major step for India's automotive industry

The GARC expansion comes at a time when India's automobile industry is rapidly moving towards electric vehicles, connected technologies and advanced safety systems.

With better testing infrastructure, manufacturers will have access to more advanced facilities for evaluating vehicles, batteries, safety features and emerging technologies.

The PM E-DRIVE-backed upgrade could therefore play an important role in strengthening India's automotive testing ecosystem and supporting the development of safer, smarter and more technologically advanced vehicles.