The GARC Upgrade is adding electric-vehicle battery, electromagnetic compatibility, advanced-driver-assistance, crash-safety and heavy-commercial-vehicle testing capacity at the Global Automotive Research Centre near Chennai. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has allocated ₹221.13 crore to GARC under PM E-DRIVE, with purchase orders issued for almost all planned equipment.
GARC Upgrade: what is being installed
GARC operates at Oragadam in the Chennai automotive cluster and is authorised as a testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. The official and independent disclosures describe a programme that extends both electrification and general safety capability rather than building a single laboratory.
The EV component includes battery testing aligned with AIS-156 and electromagnetic interference and compatibility work under AIS-004. Other additions include ADAS equipment and soft targets, passive-safety equipment and dummy calibration, automotive-component facilities, a heavy-commercial-vehicle test capability and an upgraded powertrain laboratory.
Why high-speed cameras matter
One installed system uses UHD-4K cameras at up to 750 frames per second and Full HD capture at up to 3,000 frames per second, according to the ministry release and News9Live. During frontal, side and rear crash tests, that footage can document deformation, occupant movement and airbag deployment too quickly for ordinary video.
The camera is not a safety result by itself. Its value comes from repeatable test procedures, calibrated equipment and qualified analysis. The GARC Upgrade expands the evidence available to manufacturers and certifiers; it does not certify every new model automatically or replace the standards that define a pass.
How the scheme changes domestic development
India’s vehicle makers need local access to validation as batteries, software-assisted driving and high-voltage systems become more complex. A domestic lab can shorten the loop between a failed test, an engineering change and a retest. It can also reduce dependence on overseas facilities for specialised work, although manufacturers may still use global labs for export-market approvals.
PM E-DRIVE has an overall outlay of ₹10,900 crore and earmarks ₹780 crore for testing-agency upgrades. GARC’s ₹221.13 crore share is therefore part of a national network rather than an isolated grant. The centre complements capacity at ICAT, ARAI and NATRAX, each serving different manufacturers, regions and test schedules.
What to watch next
The meaningful milestones are equipment installation, calibration, accreditation, booking availability and completed certification work. Purchase orders show progress, but usable capacity begins only when labs accept customer programmes and issue recognised results. Reporting should therefore follow commissioning rather than treating the allocation as a finished outcome.
For manufacturers, the commercial test is whether new slots reduce waiting times and late-stage redesigns. For policymakers, it is whether the infrastructure keeps pace with fast-changing battery and driver-assistance standards through the scheme’s end on 31 March 2028.
Facts table
| Allocated to GARC | ₹221.13 crore |
|---|---|
| Scheme testing allocation | ₹780 crore |
| PM E-DRIVE outlay | ₹10,900 crore |
| Scheme end | 31 March 2028 |
Related Lapaas Voice reporting
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FAQs
How much funding is allocated to the GARC Upgrade?
The disclosed allocation is ₹221.13 crore under PM E-DRIVE.
What will GARC test?
The additions cover EV batteries, EMI/EMC, ADAS, passive safety, heavy vehicles, powertrains and components.
When does PM E-DRIVE end?
The scheme is scheduled to operate through 31 March 2028.
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