ARAI-Micelio Digital Twin Lab Now Fully Operational to Transform EV Testing in India

The Automobile Research Association of India (ARAI) has announced that its Digital Twin Lab, developed in collaboration with Micelio and IIT Guwahati Tech Park, is now completely operational following its launch in June 2025. The facility, supported by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, represents India's first comprehensive digital simulation infrastructure designed specifically for electric vehicle innovation and testing.

The lab operates through an innovative hub-and-spoke model, with its primary center at ARAI in Pune and secondary facilities at Micelio Discovery Studio in Bengaluru and IIT Guwahati. This distributed structure aims to make advanced EV testing capabilities accessible to startups, micro and small enterprises (MSMEs), and established automobile manufacturers across different regions of the country.

The facility offers comprehensive digital twin modeling for critical EV components, including battery packs, motors, and drivetrains. It provides virtual validation environments capable of simulating real-world operational conditions such as wear-and-tear, energy consumption patterns, and thermal behavior. The lab is also equipped with Hardware-in-Loop testing systems and artificial intelligence-based simulation tools designed to predict vehicle performance across various scenarios.

According to Dr Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, the lab represents a strategic expansion of the organization's digital twinning services across India. "ARAI remains committed to empowering OEMs, startups, and automotive innovators with cutting-edge mobility solutions," Dr Mathai said in a statement, adding that the facility would support India's transition toward intelligent and sustainable mobility.

By enabling companies to validate concepts and refine designs without requiring substantial capital investments, the Digital Twin Lab addresses a significant barrier for smaller players in India's automotive sector. This capability is expected to reduce development timelines and costs while facilitating the creation of solutions tailored to Indian market conditions and requirements.

The launch of the Digital Twin Lab aligns with India's broader policy framework, including the Make in India initiative, Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), and the Digital Public Infrastructure mission. The facility's operational status was announced at the Global Clean Mobility Summit 2025, which is convening India's mobility sector leaders in Bengaluru. The summit's theme, "Next Starts Now: Sustain and Scale," reflects the broader objective of transitioning clean mobility from ambition to market implementation across India's automotive ecosystem.