Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in Pune to transfer a land parcel for an advanced crash test facility in Chakan. The agreement was exchanged in the presence of the Union Heavy Industries Minister Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy, SAVWIPL Managing Director and CEO Mr. Piyush Arora, and ARAI Director Dr. Reji Mathai.
ARAI will build the facility for future vehicles, including battery electric (BEV) and petrol or diesel (ICE) models. It will let more EV-specific tests, including NCAP assessments required for export markets, be done within India. It will sit next to Škoda Auto Volkswagen India’s Chakan car plant and add capacity for faster development and validation of BEVs and new safety technologies.
“Expanding local R&D and safety testing infrastructure is essential as India’s automotive sector advances,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy. He said the facility will support faster implementation of future Bharat NCAP requirements, address India-specific road safety challenges, and help Indian carmakers build vehicles that meet export standards.
Arora said that when ARAI needed land next to the Chakan plant, the company adjusted its future expansion layout to support the request. He noted that its INDIA 2.0 vehicles were the first India-made cars to earn 5-star Global NCAP ratings for both adult and child occupant protection. The partnership, he said, will help shorten EV development timelines and strengthen Bharat NCAP testing.
Dr. Mathai called the MoU “a strategic milestone in India’s automotive testing and safety infrastructure.”
