In the fast-evolving world of automotive innovation, development cycles are long, complex, and increasingly governed by stringent standards. For the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), headquartered in Manesar, Haryana, this is the crucible in which India's next-gen mobility is being shaped—especially in the realm of electric vehicles (EVs). Tasked with testing, certification, and development, ICAT plays a critical role not just as a regulator but as an enabler for the entire ecosystem, Dr Saurabh Dalela, Director, ICAT has said.
Speaking on ‘Future Technologies’ at the SAE India Automotive Leadership Summit organised alongside Automotive Testing Expo 2025, Dalela said, 'Testing takes time, but regulation invites even more scrutiny—something we experience every day.'
With EVs dominating headlines and policy agendas, ICAT is laying the technical foundation to support this transition. The centre boasts infrastructure capable of rigorous vehicle and component-level tests—including energy, range, noise, EMI/EMC, crash, and abuse testing. It also provides testing for batteries, controllers, motors, and chargers—crucial in India’s diverse climatic and road conditions. Whether it’s simulating high-altitude chill or submerging components to simulate monsoonal floods, ICAT ensures that a single product is robust across extremes, he explained.
Recent standards such as AIS-038 and AIS-156 are part of ICAT's expanding regulatory portfolio, and more are under development. “But beyond rule enforcement, ICAT views itself as a development partner—especially for India’s flourishing startup scene. Many of these innovators lack access to advanced testing infrastructure and domain expertise, which ICAT readily provides. We come from the industry—cars, buses, trucks, tractors—and we bring that experience to the table when supporting newcomers,” Dalela pointed out.
This collaboration has already borne fruit, particularly in battery development and Battery Management Systems (BMS), areas where Indian companies are trying to reduce dependency on imports. ICAT helps such firms localize components, build in-house capabilities, and navigate the complex testing landscape. As part of its roadmap, the centre is also developing cutting-edge facilities including an ECU design and development lab, cybersecurity and software validation centres, and advanced infrastructure for the testing and validation of next-generation technologies.
ICAT’s support becomes even more critical as India races towards its climate commitments. The country aims to meet half of its energy demand through renewable resources. This transition places a spotlight on not only battery technology and charging infrastructure but also public awareness and consumer acceptance. ICAT is working actively on all fronts—technical, industrial, and policy—to ensure that this transformation is both technologically sound and widely adopted.
Positioned at the heart of India’s regulatory framework, ICAT works closely with the Ministry of Heavy Industries and other governmental bodies to implement schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
ICAT is also instrumental in policymaking under Rule 126 and serves as the secretariat for the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. Beyond vehicles, its mandate extends to genset testing, contributions to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) committees, and pioneering work in intelligent transport systems (ITS), ADAS validation, and cybersecurity.
By bridging the gap between regulation and innovation, offering cost-effective development support, and acting as a trusted partner to both government and industry, ICAT is ensuring that India’s mobility revolution is not only compliant but also competitive, resilient, and truly homegrown, he added.
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