MoRTH Proposes Mandatory Emergency Braking for All Cars From October 2032

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed making Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) mandatory for all M1 category vehicles from October 1, 2032. The category covers passenger vehicles with up to eight seats, excluding the driver.

Under the draft amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, AEBS would first become mandatory for new M1 models manufactured from October 1, 2030. The requirement would then extend to all M1 models, including those already in production, two years later.

The draft notification is open for public consultation for 30 days. The ministry will consider objections and suggestions received before finalising the rules.

AEBS Fitment Proposed in Phases

AEBS is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature that can apply the brakes automatically if the driver does not respond to an impending collision. It is designed to help avoid an impact or reduce its severity.

The draft proposes that, from October 1, 2028, M1 passenger vehicles and N1 light goods vehicles fitted with AEBS must comply with AIS-185, the relevant Automotive Industry Standard. The N1 category covers goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes.

If approved as proposed, the fitment timeline for M1 vehicles would be:

October 1, 2028: AEBS-equipped M1 and N1 vehicles must meet AIS-185.

October 1, 2030: AEBS becomes mandatory on newly manufactured M1 models.

October 1, 2032: AEBS becomes mandatory on all M1 models, including existing models

Steering and Lane-Keeping Systems Also Covered

The draft notification also proposes standards for steering and lane-keeping technologies.

From October 1, 2027, steering effort on motor vehicles would need to comply with AIS-193. Motorcycles, invalid carriages and three-wheelers without a steering wheel are proposed to be exempt.

M1 vehicles equipped with Automatic Command Steering Functionalities (ACSF) from that date would also need to meet AIS-193, while vehicles with an Emergency Lane Keeping System (ELKS) would have to comply with AIS-191 (Part 1).

The draft further proposes making ACSF and ELKS mandatory for M1 vehicles registered as transport vehicles from October 1, 2029. The measures are expected to particularly affect taxis, with drowsiness and attention-warning systems also proposed for these vehicles, according to the supplied report.

More Safety Technology Planned for Commercial Vehicles

The draft comes alongside other safety measures for commercial vehicles. New truck and bus models are set to receive AEBS from January 2027, according to the supplied report. Blind-spot information, moving-off information, driver-drowsiness detection and lane-departure warning systems have also been made mandatory for these vehicles.

A revised braking standard for trucks is due from October 1, 2027, alongside electronic stability control (ESC), intended to improve vehicle stability, including during braking on curves.

MoRTH has also proposed mandating Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication on all newly manufactured vehicles from October 1, 2028. The technology enables vehicles to exchange information such as speed, position and direction, and is expected to complement ADAS functions such as AEBS.

The proposals form part of the government’s broader effort to improve road safety and reduce accidents and fatalities. However, the AEBS and other provisions described here remain subject to the draft notification’s consultation and finalisation process.