The Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) at Oragadam in Chennai is upgrading its automotive testing infrastructure under the Government of India’s PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme. GARC functions under the National Automotive Board of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and is an authorised testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. The centre provides vehicle and component testing, research and development, homologation and certification across areas including powertrain, emissions, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), fatigue, electric vehicles and vehicle safety.
The PM E-DRIVE Scheme has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore, including ₹780 crore for upgrading automotive testing agencies. The scheme has been extended until March 31, 2028. Under the scheme, GARC has been allocated ₹221.13 crore for upgrading its testing infrastructure. GARC has issued purchase orders for almost all the proposed equipment, while installation of the procured equipment has also commenced.
The infrastructure upgrade includes facilities for Electric Vehicle and EV Battery Testing as per AIS-156, along with EV electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) testing under AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1. GARC is also developing a Heavy Commercial Vehicle Testing Facility and upgrading its Powertrain Laboratory. These facilities will expand the centre’s testing capabilities for electric vehicles, batteries and other automotive technologies.
The planned upgrades also include Advanced Passive Safety Testing, with advanced dummies and dummy calibration equipment. GARC is strengthening Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Testing with specialised instruments and soft targets. The infrastructure expansion also covers automotive component testing, adding further testing capabilities to the centre’s existing facilities.
A key addition is a high-speed, high-resolution imaging system for crash testing. The system features UHD-4K cameras capable of recording at up to 750 frames per second, while Full HD recording can reach up to 3,000 frames per second. The cameras will support frontal, side and rear crash testing by capturing vehicle deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment. The recorded footage will provide detailed information for safety analysis and vehicle homologation.
The PM E-DRIVE-supported infrastructure upgrade is aimed at strengthening GARC’s testing and certification capabilities for electric vehicles, batteries, advanced safety systems, ADAS, heavy commercial vehicles and emerging automotive technologies. With the addition of new testing equipment and facilities, GARC is expanding its role as an automotive testing and research centre and supporting India’s domestic vehicle testing and certification infrastructure.
