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
- 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.
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