The Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) in Oragadam, Chennai, is expanding its vehicle and component testing capabilities under the government’s PM E-DRIVE scheme, with new facilities aimed at electric vehicles, advanced safety systems and emerging automotive technologies.
GARC, which operates under the National Automotive Board and the Ministry of Heavy Industries, is an authorised testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. Its existing activities cover vehicle and component testing, research and development, homologation and certification across areas including powertrains, emissions, electromagnetic compatibility, electric vehicles and safety.
Under PM E-DRIVE, GARC has been allocated ₹221.13 crore for infrastructure upgrades. The broader scheme has an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, including ₹780 crore earmarked for upgrading testing agencies, and is scheduled to remain operational until March 31, 2028. GARC has issued purchase orders for almost all the equipment included in its planned upgrades.
The projects include testing facilities for electric vehicles and batteries in line with AIS-156 requirements, as well as electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility testing under AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1. Other upgrades cover heavy commercial vehicle testing, powertrain laboratories, automotive components and advanced passive safety systems.
The centre is also establishing facilities for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including specialised instruments and soft targets used for testing. Equipment installation has already begun across the planned facilities.
Among the new additions is a high-speed imaging system for crash testing. It uses UHD-4K cameras capable of recording at up to 750 frames per second, while Full HD recording can reach 3,000 frames per second. The system will be used during frontal, side and rear crash tests to capture vehicle deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment.
The upgraded infrastructure is intended to strengthen domestic testing and certification capabilities for electric vehicles, batteries, advanced safety technologies, ADAS, heavy commercial vehicles and other emerging automotive technologies.
