Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to transfer a land parcel adjacent to its manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune.
The transferred site will be utilised by ARAI to establish an advanced Crash Test Facility (ACTF) dedicated to evaluating future mobility models, including electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine cars.
The testing center will increase domestic testing capacity for Bharat NCAP assessments and export homologation programmes, reducing reliance on overseas centers.
"When ARAI required land for a specialised crash test facility adjacent to our Chakan plant, we adjusted our future expansion layout to support their request," Piyush Arora, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, stated
"This MoU represents a strategic milestone in India’s automotive testing and safety infrastructure. As vehicle technologies evolve rapidly, the need for advanced validation, crashworthiness assessment, and regulatory compliance capabilities will continue to grow," Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said.