Skoda India to give land to ARAI for a new crash test facility in Chakan
- 1SAVWIPL will transfer a strategic land parcel to ARAI next to its Chakan plant
- 2ARAI will build an advanced crash test facility for BEV and ICE models on the land
- 3It will allow more EV-specific tests in India
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have signed a MoU to expand crash testing in India. The MoU was exchanged in Pune, in the presence of Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Under the agreement, SAVWIPL will transfer a plot of land next to its Chakan plant to ARAI. ARAI will use it to set up a new crash test facility for electric and internal combustion engine vehicles.
What the MoU covers
The new facility will add to India’s crash-testing capacity and support the development and testing of future vehicles and safety technologies. It is also expected to allow more EV-specific tests to be carried out in India, including NCAP assessments required for export markets. The MoU does not specify the land area, facility cost, opening date or testing capacity.
Chakan crash test facility
India’s new-car assessment programme, Bharat NCAP, tests vehicle safety. H.D. Kumaraswamy said expanding local testing facilities will help the industry prepare for future Bharat NCAP requirements and build vehicles that meet export-market safety standards.
Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of SAVWIPL, said ARAI needed land for a specialised crash test facility near the Chakan plant. He said the company adjusted its future expansion plans to support the project. Arora added that the facility could help shorten EV development timelines and strengthen Bharat NCAP testing. ARAI Director Dr. Reji Mathai described the MoU as an important step in developing India’s testing and safety infrastructure.
About the companies behind the MoU
SAVWIPL is based in Pune and manages the Indian operations of six Volkswagen Group brands: Skoda, Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche. ARAI was established in 1966 by the automotive industry with the Government of India. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Heavy Industries and provides testing, certification, homologation and research services.
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