India advances automotive R&D through infrastructure upgrades and new research lab

The Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) is upgrading its testing infrastructure in Chennai under the Government of India’s PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. Allocated ₹221.13 crore, the upgrades focus on electric vehicle and EV battery testing, heavy commercial vehicle facilities, and advanced passive safety testing. The facility will include high-speed, high-resolution imaging systems to support detailed crash testing and safety analysis.

In a separate development, SRM Technologies has launched the Drive Next Automotive (DNA) Lab at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. This R&D environment aims to advance automotive research through applied studies in areas such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), automotive software, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing. The lab is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements by providing students and experts a space for prototyping and validation.