Press Information Bureau

Pune, October 31, 2026:

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) today hosted Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon'ble Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, during its Diamond Jubilee year celebrations. The visit highlighted ARAI's expanding role in advancing automotive safety, sustainable mobility, testing infrastructure and indigenous technology development.

As part of the programme, the Hon'ble Minister virtually inaugurated ARAI's Advanced Battery Laboratory, established under the Ministry of Heavy Industries' Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector - Phase II scheme. Developed with a total investment of approximately
₹55 crore, including support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI, the facility will strengthen India's capabilities in battery testing, validation, safety assessment and performance evaluation for electric and hybrid vehicle applications. The laboratory is equipped to support design validation, certification and export compliance testing in line with prevailing and emerging national and international standards.
The Hon'ble Minister also virtually inaugurated ARAI's Advanced Two-Dynamometer E-Axle and EV Powertrain Test Facility, a state-of-the-art infrastructure developed to support the design, development, validation and optimization of electric powertrains and e-axles. The facility will further strengthen India's electric mobility ecosystem and support the development of next-generation propulsion technologies for the automotive industry.
During the visit, ARAI presented its six-decade journey of supporting the automotive sector through research, testing, certification and innovation, while outlining its future vision for enabling safe, smart, connected and sustainable mobility.
As part of its Diamond Jubilee celebrations, ARAI launched a nationwide Road Safety Outreach Campaign aimed at promoting safer mobility through public awareness initiatives, educational programmes, driver training and digital engagement. The campaign seeks to create greater awareness among citizens and reinforce road safety as a shared responsibility. 

The Hon'ble Minister also released a commemorative India Post My Stamp marking ARAI@60, celebrating the institute's contributions to automotive research, testing, certification, safety and sustainable mobility over the past six decades.
The programme also witnessed the exchange of an MoU between ARAI and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd., towards transfer of a land parcel for the development of an Advanced Crash Test Facility (ACTF), marking a significant step towards strengthening India's vehicle safety assessment and testing ecosystem. Building on their long-standing collaboration, the proposed facility will strengthen ARAI’s crash-testing infrastructure for both conventional and next-generation mobility solutions, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The expanded capabilities will support increased crash testing, homologation and advanced safety assessments within India, aiding Bharat NCAP implementation, evolving regulatory requirements and export homologation programmes, while reducing reliance on overseas testing facilities. The initiative reinforces ARAI’s commitment to indigenous safety research, occupant protection and future-ready testing in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Further emphasizing its commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and global collaboration, ARAI launched SIAT 2028 (Symposium on International Automotive Technology), its flagship international mobility conference. The event will bring together global industry leaders, researchers, academia, policymakers and technology experts to deliberate on emerging mobility trends and future transportation solutions.
The occasion also marked the launch of the ARAI-AMTIF website, further enhancing industry collaboration, technology development and innovation within the mobility ecosystem. ARAI announced plans to further enhance its testing and validation capabilities through upcoming infrastructure developments, including advanced fire safety testing facilities, aimed at supporting evolving industry requirements and future regulatory needs.
Addressing the gathering, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon'ble Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Minister of Steel, Government of India, commended ARAI's contributions to strengthening India's automotive ecosystem and emphasized the importance of advanced testing infrastructure, innovation and road safety in enabling the nation's mobility aspirations.
He said: "ARAI has been at the forefront of strengthening India's automotive ecosystem through its contributions to research, testing, certification and safety. The facilities inaugurated and initiatives launched today will further enhance the country's capabilities in electric mobility, advanced battery technologies and vehicle safety, while supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and sustainable mobility."
Delivering the Welcome Address, Mr. Prasan Firodia, Vice President, ARAI Governing Council, underscored the importance of collaboration in driving India's mobility transformation and said: "India's mobility transformation has been significantly accelerated through visionary government initiatives and schemes. Equally important has been the continued support of industry. As we advance towards a future driven by sustainable and low-carbon mobility, emerging technologies and next-generation transportation systems, collaboration across stakeholders remain essential. Through its contributions to policy formulation and implementation, ARAI has played a pivotal role in translating national priorities into tangible outcomes for India's automotive and heavy engineering industries."
Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said: "As we celebrate ARAI's Diamond Jubilee, these milestones reflect both our legacy and our future aspirations. From advanced testing infrastructure and electric mobility technologies to road safety outreach and industry collaboration, we remain committed to supporting the nation's mobility transformation through innovation, technical excellence and service to society."
The initiatives launched and milestones commemorated during the visit reaffirm ARAI's commitment to supporting the Government of India's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through world-class research, testing, certification and technology development. The institute continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobility and strengthening India's position as a global automotive and mobility hub.

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Harshal Akude/Parshuram Kor

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