Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to support the development of a new crash testing facility in Chakan, Pune. As part of the agreement, the automaker will transfer a parcel of land adjoining its existing manufacturing plant to ARAI for the project.
The proposed Advanced Crash Test Facility (ACTF) will be developed to evaluate the safety performance of both electric vehicles and conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) models. The project is intended to strengthen India’s domestic automotive testing capabilities as vehicle technologies and safety regulations continue to evolve.
New facility to support Bharat NCAP testing
The upcoming crash test centre will provide additional infrastructure for vehicle safety assessments, including testing requirements under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).
It will also support vehicle homologation procedures for international markets, helping manufacturers carry out testing and certification activities within India instead of depending on overseas facilities.
With automakers increasingly developing vehicles for both domestic and export markets, additional testing capacity could help streamline vehicle development and regulatory approval processes.
The facility is also expected to accommodate the testing requirements of battery electric vehicles, which involve different safety considerations compared to conventional petrol and diesel-powered models.
Skoda Volkswagen adjusts expansion plans for the project
According to Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, the company modified its planned expansion layout at the Chakan manufacturing facility to make land available for ARAI’s proposed testing centre.
Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said the company revised its future expansion plans after ARAI identified the need for land adjacent to the manufacturing plant.
Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, highlighted the growing importance of advanced vehicle testing infrastructure as automotive technologies become more complex. He noted that the industry would require stronger capabilities for crashworthiness evaluation, vehicle validation and compliance with evolving safety regulations.
Focus on expanding domestic vehicle testing infrastructure
The collaboration comes as India’s automotive industry continues to expand its focus on vehicle safety, electrification and exports. Developing additional crash testing infrastructure could provide manufacturers with greater access to local validation facilities while potentially reducing the time and costs associated with overseas testing.
The new centre is expected to complement existing automotive research and certification infrastructure in the country. However, details regarding the project’s investment, construction schedule and expected operational timeline have not yet been announced.
The agreement marks another step towards expanding India’s vehicle safety testing ecosystem, with the proposed facility intended to serve the requirements of both conventional and electric vehicles.
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