ARAI opens Rs 40 crore ADAS test facility in Pune

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has inaugurated a new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) testing facility in Pune aimed at evaluating how safety technologies perform in real Indian driving conditions. Built at a cost of Rs 40 crore, the facility includes a purpose-built test city that recreates traffic patterns commonly seen on Indian roads. The layout features four-lane roads narrowing into two lanes, S-curves, irregular intersections, roads without lane markings and dedicated zones for autonomous parking and maneuver testing. In addition to ADAS validation, ARAI is developing India-specific crash test dummies that represent vehicles such as auto-rickshaws and other three-wheelers — categories that are not currently covered under global ISO standards. ARAI Director Dr Reji Mathai said ADAS features will become increasingly common across vehicles, and their effectiveness will depend on how well they adapt to local conditions. He added that the new facility will help ensure the technology is practical, user-friendly and relevant for Indian consumers.