The Hon'ble Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, inaugurated two advanced facilities at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) as part of the institution's Diamond Jubilee year celebrations.
On October 31, 2026, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon'ble Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, visited ARAI 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 two advanced facilities at ARAI: the Advanced Battery Laboratory and the Advanced Two-Dynamometer E-Axle and EV Powertrain Test Facility. The facilities are 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, established under the Ministry of Heavy Industries' Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector – Phase II scheme, was developed with a total investment of approximately ₹55 crore. The laboratory is equipped to support design validation, certification, and export compliance testing in line with prevailing and emerging national and international standards.
The Advanced Two-Dynamometer E-Axle and EV Powertrain Test Facility is a state-of-the-art infrastructure developed to support the design, development, validation, and optimization of electric powertrains and e-axles. This 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.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
