Pune: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) marked its Diamond Jubilee year with a series of initiatives focused on automotive safety, sustainable mobility, testing infrastructure and indigenous technology development, with Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy virtually inaugurating the Advanced Battery Laboratory and other key facilities.
The Advanced Battery Laboratory has been 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 is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in battery testing, validation, safety assessment and performance evaluation for electric and hybrid vehicle applications.
The Advanced Battery Laboratory is equipped to support design validation, certification and export compliance testing in line with prevailing and emerging national and international standards.
Alongside the Advanced Battery Laboratory, the Union Minister also virtually inaugurated ARAI’s Advanced Two-Dynamometer E-Axle and EV Powertrain Test Facility.
The state-of-the-art infrastructure has been developed to support the design, development, validation and optimisation of electric powertrains and e-axles.
The new EV powertrain facility is expected to 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.
ARAI Launches Road Safety Outreach Campaign
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 Advanced Battery Laboratory inauguration was among several initiatives unveiled during the Diamond Jubilee programme, which also highlighted ARAI’s focus on safety, sustainable mobility, technology development and industry collaboration.
ARAI@60 My Stamp Released
H.D. Kumaraswamy also released a commemorative India Post My Stamp marking ARAI@60. The stamp celebrates 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 the transfer of a land parcel for the development of an Advanced Crash Test Facility (ACTF).
The proposed Advanced Crash Test Facility marks a step towards strengthening India’s vehicle safety assessment and testing ecosystem.
Building on the organisations’ long-standing collaboration, the facility will strengthen ARAI’s crash-testing infrastructure for 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.
ARAI Launches SIAT 2028
Further emphasising its commitment to 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, aimed at further enhancing industry collaboration, technology development and innovation within the mobility ecosystem.
ARAI also 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.
H.D. Kumaraswamy Highlights ARAI’s Role in Automotive Ecosystem
Addressing the gathering, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Minister of Steel, Government of India, commended ARAI’s contributions to strengthening India’s automotive ecosystem and emphasised 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, Prasan Firodia, Vice President, ARAI Governing Council, underscored the importance of collaboration in driving India’s mobility transformation.
He 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 Advanced Battery Laboratory, EV powertrain testing facility, Road Safety Outreach Campaign, ARAI@60 My Stamp, Advanced Crash Test Facility collaboration and SIAT 2028 launch formed part of the initiatives unveiled during ARAI’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
