Pune: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) plans to establish a hydrogen internal combustion engine development facility in the country within the next year, said ARAI Director Dr Reji Mathai, reports The Hindu businessline.
He was speaking at a press conference held ahead of the Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT 2026), which will be organised by ARAI from January 27 to January 30, 2026.
He said the automotive sector is witnessing rapid technological change, prompting ARAI to expand its research efforts in several new areas. He noted that the sharp rise in road accidents has made vehicle safety a major concern and said the institute is focusing on research that can help ensure new vehicles are safer and better equipped with essential safety features.
Dr Mathai said ARAI is also extending support to startups promoted under central government initiatives by providing access to technology and technical guidance. Over the past three to four years, the institute has registered 18 patents. He said ARAI is working on traffic data collection using intelligent vehicle systems, vehicle testing, digital sensor studies, and research aimed at addressing air pollution caused by fuel use.
He added that ARAI plans to set up a photometric laboratory to test automobile spare parts made in India, along with indoor and outdoor lighting systems. Under the MARG 2.0 programme, the institute is measuring road surface conditions using advanced sensors and data analysis methods, linking road quality data with mapped road images.
So far, around 50,000 km of road data from nearly 20 states has been collected. This information is being used to support vehicle design improvements, assess durability, evaluate ride comfort and carry out validation tests. Dr Mathai also said that ARAI has recently launched several new facilities, including a battery testing laboratory, cylinder testing facilities excluding hydrogen, and an advanced driver assistance systems smart city track.
