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Indian minister Pandey calls on automotive research association ARAI to be innovative in reducing charging times for EVs

Industry Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey is advising the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to develop technologies to reduce charging times of EVs. “The automotive sector currently contributes between 14 and 15 percent to GDP and is expected to increase to 25 to 30 percent,” he said at a meeting with various industry associations. According to him, sales of EVs have surged in recent months due to government subsidies. However, there are currently bottlenecks in charging infrastructure as well as ambiguities for the electricity price at charging stations. Cars and their components must be certified in India according to AIS guidelines.

As there is currently the most urgent need to catch up on available charging stations, the government has selected nine expressways where 6,000 charging stations will be tendered, 3,000 of which will be installed in the near future. At present, cell chemical components for the production of electric car batteries are all imported, according to the minister. Since about 30 percent of the cost of an EV is the battery, Pandey suggests local manufacturing of cells and batteries for EVs to save costs. This is possible, he said, because 70 percent of the raw materials for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries are already available in India. Here, the minister points to the recently introduced subsidies under the PLI (production-linked incentive) program for the automotive industry, which includes the electric vehicle sector.

In addition, the Indian government extended the FAME I and II subsidy programs for faster adoption and local manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles for another two years until March 2024. According to information from the industry minister, 8 to 13 percent of auto suppliers and 13 to 18 percent of EV manufacturers benefit from these subsidies. It was also announced that ARAI will build a battery testing laboratory at its Chakan site near the city of Pune. The new lab’s facilities will mainly be used for tests regarding the safety of batteries for use in hybrid and EV cars.

AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India, while TAC stands for Type Approval Certificate. This kind of automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).

Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Minister in charge Piyush Goyal lists five mottos for the growth of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal named the five mottos to grow BIS at the institution’s 75th anniversary celebration. He said the Bureau of Indian Standarsd (BIS) should be a modern service provider and not be perceived as a hindrance by businesses and the public. Maintaining quality standards should not be too expensive and must take into account the profit margin of companies, Goyal added. In his thanking speech, the minister praised the contribution of BIS to India’s national economic performance with the main tasks of “standardization and certification” by BIS. “The Indian nation and BIS will be one hundred years old in 2047. Therefore, it is a great challenge to set a 25-year plan for the BIS. The contents of which should help make India a world power and great nation,” Goyal said in his speech.

The Bureau of Indian Standards, or BIS, was established in 1947 as the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) and celebrated its 75th anniversary on Jan. 6. On the five mottos of BIS’s future growth, Goyal said the following: First, he said, BIS must work as a facilitator, not an “obstructor.” Second, the BIS should become a global organization by learning and integrating global standards. Third, BIS needs to conduct a gap analysis of its laboratory capabilities and establish modern QA laboratories throughout the country. Fourth, BIS should achieve a quality or standard “revolution” through the “One Nation One Standard” program. Last and fifth, BIS should ensure that compliance with quality standards does not cost too much, but remains in proportion to the further costs of enterprises.

Goyal also said that standardization and certificates of conformity ensure safe, reliable and high-quality products for consumers, and therefore the importance of BIS will increase in the coming years. BIS must inform and raise awareness among consumers about quality assurance, the minister added at the end of his speech.

A large number of diverse products require BIS certification in order to import them into India or place them on the market. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. Since the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be pleased to help you with an initial assessment.

If you have any questions regarding BIS certification, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Mercedes-Benz asserts itself as market leader in India’s luxury car segment

Mercedes-Benz India, the local subsidiary of the German luxury car maker, has further strengthened its market leadership in the luxury car segment in 2021. With this, Mercedes-Benz has been the market leader in the Indian luxury car segment for the past seven years and owns a comfortable gap in sales figures over its competitors. According to the company’s own figures, it sold a total of 11,242 vehicles, an increase of 42.5 per cent over the previous year and a market share of 41 per cent. Nevertheless, the figures should be treated with caution, as the year 2020 is not considered representative due to the Corona pandemic and relatively low sales figures. Mercedes-Benz sold only 7,893 vehicles in 2020, for example, and not a single vehicle left a dealer in April. In previous years, the average sales figures were close to the 15,000 vehicle mark per year. Cars and their components have to be certified according to the AIS guidelines in India. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India.

Nevertheless, Mercedes-Benz 2021 managed to position itself ahead of its German rivals BMW and Audi in the Indian market, even though the latter reported good sales figures. BMW reported a 34 per cent year-on-year increase with 8,236 vehicles sold, while Audi reported a 101 per cent increase with 3,293 vehicles sold compared to the particularly difficult year of 2020. Mercedes-Benz India is also very confident about the current year 2022 as they currently have more than 3,000 open orders on the books. Commenting on the highest ever level, Mercedes-Benz India CEO Martin Schwenk said, “This is a clear sign that we are in a healthy market with the Mercedes product portfolio.” Even though the large number of orders suggests high demand, another reason for the long waiting list is the shortage of semiconductors and logistics problems, which, however, also affect other vehicle manufacturers.

There is a certain surprise with the best-selling Mercedes model in India: it is not an entry-level model, but the long-wheelbase version of the E-Class. Other best-sellers were also the SUVs with the Mercedes-Benz GLC in first place. Apart from new models, Mercedes-Benz India also launched a new direct sales model “Retail of the Future” in October 2021, which proved successful with 2,500 orders. Further, 94 dealers and service outlets have been trained in the handling of the new all-electric EQ Series vehicles. According to the company, the Mercedes-Benz production facility in Chakan was equipped with solar cells to generate 3.6 MW of solar power. After the solar panels start operating in January 2022, the plant will now run on 100 per cent green power.
The automotive AIS product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).

Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Indian smartphone industry poised for stable growth this year

Although the Indian smartphone industry has faced some obstacles due to the corona pandemic and semiconductor shortages, the industry is confident about this year. For example, estimates suggest that between 190 and 200 million devices could be shipped in 2022, many of them with 5G functionality. The increase in sales is attributed by experts to the continuation of working from home and that more time in general is being spent at home and therefore with a smartphone. For example, Counterpoint Research market researcher Shilpi Jain said the Indian smartphone market has seen steady growth over the past five years, with around 158 million devices sold in 2019. Although Jain said the market saw a slight decline due to the Covid 19 pandemic, she expects robust growth this year and a surpassing of the 200 million devices shipped mark this year. The prerequisite for the production and sale of smartphones on the Indian market is BIS certification, which is mandatory for many of the components and production equipment. In addition, TEC certification is also required for wireless products.

Analysts at CyberMedia Research (CMR) have a similarly positive view, with estimated smartphone shipments in the range of 187 million to 190 million devices this year. Smartphones with 5G functionality will see particular growth, according to CMR’s Anand Priya Singh. For state-of-the-art devices, she projects an increase to 64 million devices in 2022. That would represent 129 percent growth from the 28 million devices in the previous year. For the general smartphone market in India, Singh could see growth of 11 percent between 2020 and 2021. The number of devices shipped increased from 150 million to about 167 million.

Although 5G networks are not yet available in India, industry experts nevertheless expect consumers to opt for a 5G-enabled device when making a new purchase. According to surveys, buying a new smartphone equipped with a 5G radio module is among the top 3 priorities of future users. Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth said conversations around the adoption of 5G technology have been happening since 2019 and smartphone manufacturers launched the first 5G devices in early 2020. Test runs for the 5G wireless network are scheduled for this year, and spectrum auctions are expected to take place in the second half of 2022. Realme CEO Sheth therefore expects demand for 5G smartphones to increase this year. Realme aims to be a leader in the deployment of 5G and will therefore equip all of its smartphones above a retail price of 15,000 Indian rupees with 5G radio modules, as well as work to offer the technology in devices below 10,000 Indian rupees, Sheth added.
Electronic components or finished electronic devices require BIS certification in order to import them into India or bring them to market. Here, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification, depending on the product. TEC is the abbreviation for Telecommunication Engineering Center. TEC is the competent authority in India when it comes to TEC certification for telecommunications products. From 1991 to 2019, TEC certification was still possible as a voluntary product registration, but now it is mandatory for many product groups. As the product list is constantly expanding, we are pleased to help you with a first assessment.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information, please refer to our free brochures “BIS Certification Made Easy” and “TEC Certification Made Easy“.

Kia expects 30 per cent increase in car sales in India next year

South Korean carmaker Kia is eyeing increased sales in India. The company expects sales to grow by 30 per cent in 2022 as the chip crisis in the auto market slowly eases. Towards the middle of the year, chips and semiconductors should become more available again and Kia India will be able to utilise the full capacity of its plant in India. To this end, the capacity of the Andhra Pradesh plant will be ramped up from the current 220,000 units (exports included) to 300,000 vehicles. The company is even planning to expand the existing plant to increase capacity by another 100,000 units. Cars and their components must obtain AIS (Automotive Industry Standards) certification in India before they can be used in the Indian market.

According to Kia India manager Tae-Jin Park, last year’s target figures had to be revised downwards due to the chip crisis. Nevertheless, with the situation easing and the launch of the new Kia Carens, a 25 to 30 per cent increase in sales should be possible this year, Park told the Economic Times of India. In the Indian car market, the Kia Carens is positioned between the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the market leader in minivans, the Toyota Innova. Insiders expect monthly sales of the Carens to be between 5,000 and 7,000 vehicles. Together with other Kia models, this could reach the targeted figures of 25,000 vehicles sold per month and the three-year target of 300,000 units annually.
Manager Park further said that the current production capacity is indeed 300,000 units but could be expanded to 400,000 units with automated manufacturing steps. Kia India will closely monitor the market and respond accordingly to higher demand, Park added. Moreover, Kia India is planning to launch an EV in the Indian market soon. The strategy for this will be announced in the first few months of 2022, Park said.
The AIS automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT). Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps.
We will be happy to advise you on AIS certification in India and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

BIS search at Metro wholesale store in Mumbai uncovers large quantity of uncertified toys

An unannounced search by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has unearthed a substantial quantity of uncertified toys at a Metro ‘cash-and-carry’ wholesale store. A team of BIS Mumbai personnel conducted the raid on 13 January 2021 to search for fake ISI test seals as well as non-BIS certified toys. Both offences are violations of the quality control laws of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The Metro wholesale store is accused of selling electronic and non-electronic toys without the BIS certificate.

To protect the health and safety for children, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notification on 1 January 2021 that all toys offered for sale from that date must have a mandatory BIS certificate. Violation of this government quality control scheme is an offence punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a minimum fine of Rs 200,000 under the BIS Act, 2016. Manufacturers, traders and retailers are warned against manufacturing or selling toys without a BIS certificate.

Toys require BIS certification to import or market them in India. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. As the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be pleased to help you with an initial assessment. MPR International GmbH – India Certification supports you with a pending BIS certification and is also available at any time to answer any questions you may have.
Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Indian electronics manufacturers expect massive growth within the next 3 to 4 years

With the covid crisis abating, the Indian government sees a unique opportunity to gain additional market share in the production of electronic equipment from other countries. “Every effort will be made to consolidate its position as a manufacturing hub in the electronics sector as well as to attract well-known companies to India,” Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister for electronics and IT told the Economic Times of India. Moreover, India should continue to present itself as an innovative nation rather than just a low-cost manufacturing hub, the minister said while unveiling a report on strengthening Indian electronics exports and participation in global supply chains. A majority of all electronic products require BIS certifications in order to be imported into and used in India.

According to the minister, India has strengths in electronics and software development along with manufacturing expertise that few countries can boast of. The Secretary to the Minister, Ajay Sawheny, said that despite the sometimes severe impact of the pandemic, Indian industry was able to manufacture products worth 75 billion US dollars. Further, he said, there is an ambitious target to expand the amount to 250 billion within five years, which is a combined annual growth rate of 27 per cent. To achieve this, the ministry proposes various measures in its report. For example, production is to be expanded further and oriented more towards exports. The government is expected to reduce import duties on inputs and remove bureaucratic hurdles.

According to Chandrasekhar, India’s goal of becoming a globally important location for electronics products is currently more tangible than ever before. According to the minister’s rough estimates, the four big companies, Dell, Samsung, Apple and HP, generate around 650 billion US dollars annually. He sees no reason why at least 10 or 20 per cent of these products could not come from India. This would also increase the electronics sector’s contribution to India’s GDP from the current 3 per cent.
Electronic components or finished electronic devices need BIS certification to import them into India or put them on the market. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification.

Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Indian tyre exports to increase by 10 per cent in fiscal year 2021

Tyre exports from India increased by 10 per cent in value terms in the 2021 fiscal year, reaching the equivalent of $1.86 billion. This was reported by the industry body Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA). In terms of volumes provided by the Ministry of Commerce, the ATMA recorded an 8 per cent increase to around 36.4 million units of tyres. The growth in exports was caused by a sharp decline in international trade due to the Corona pandemic. In the first quarter of 2021, there was a massive 23 per cent drop in tyre exports, according to ATMA. The rapid rebound in export figures despite weak markets in the past few years is a testimony to the resilience of the Indian tyre industry, ATMA Chairman Anshuman Singhania said. The Indian government also contributed to the improvement of the situation by, among other things, restricting the illegal import of substandard tyres. Indian product certifications also play a major role in this regard, as BIS certification and AIS certification come into play in tire production, to ensure the quality of these products.

According to ATMA, Indian-made tyres are exported to more than 170 countries, including the important markets of North America and Europe. The top five buyers were the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK. For all these countries, exports grew in double digits, according to ATMA. The US remains the most important market, accounting for 17 per cent of all tyres exported. Growth in tyre exports could continue over the next 3 to 4 years, according to the ATMA, if the government removes certain barriers such as limited access to natural rubber (latex). The ATMA urged the government to improve the availability and quality of latex. This is the only way for the Indian tyre industry to remain competitive, it said.

Tyres in India have to be certified according to the AIS guidelines. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will be pleased to assist you with AIS certification and is also available to answer any questions you may have.
AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India, while TAC stands for Type Approval Certificate. This kind of automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Sales of smartphones and electronics up 15 to 20 per cent between October and November

Sales of smartphones and electronic items grew between 15 and 20 per cent year-on-year during the period from early October to the Diwali festival in early November. Medium- and high-priced goods were most in demand, with prices rising due to high popularity. Retailers and malls saw higher sales of apparel and lifestyle products than before the 2019 pandemic outbreak. Electronic products and smartphones could have achieved even better sales figures if companies’ supply volumes had not been restricted. Still, single-digit growth was reported over last year’s record growth, writes the Economic Times of India. Consumer sentiment during the festive season is at a high, said Deepak Bansal, vice president of LG Electronics India. Smartphones and similar electronic items often require components imported from abroad for their production. Most of these components require BIS certification, and in the wireless sector often also WPC ETA certification, in order to be used in India.

LG and Samsung expanded their sales by 20 per cent year-on-year during the holidays. Smartphone maker Realme managed to sell 40 per cent more device and the average selling price increased by 11 per cent. This suggests increased purchases of high-end products. Panasonic’s sales figures even rose by 42 percent. All notable brands or manufacturers, including Samsung, Apple, LG, Xiaomi and Bosch suffered from supply problems during the holidays due to shortages of semiconductors and other components because of supply chain disruptions. The industry continues to expect consumer sentiment to remain strong. This is due to the start of the wedding season this year with some auspicious dates in November and a steady increase in visitors to shopping malls, it said.
Electronic components or finished electronic devices need BIS certification to import them into India or bring them to the market. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. As the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be pleased to help you with an initial assessment. MPR International GmbH – India Certification supports you with a pending BIS certification and is also available at any time to answer any questions you may have.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Indian manufacturer Okaya EV works on full-fledged e-scooter

Known as an energy storage manufacturer, Okaya Group has recently unveiled its latest model Freedum. The Okaya Freedum will be offered with either lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries. At the moment, a slow version (up to 25 km/h) is already on the market, a faster version (50 km/h) is to follow at the end of the year. The Freedum costs the equivalent of 939 US dollars in the simplest version and complements the existing AvionIQ and ClassicIQ models. The company is currently waiting for the necessary approvals from ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology). The iCAT is also responsible for AIS approvals, which are required for the sale and use of two-wheelers in the Indian market, among other automotive products.

The Okaya Freedum is equipped with a 250-watt brushless hub motor and reaches a top speed of 25 km/h with it. A faster version is planned, with optionally more powerful batteries to extend the range to 250 km on one battery charge. The charging time of the 48-volt 30 Ah battery with lithium-ion technology is supposed to be between 4 and 5 hours, the lead battery needs between 8 and 10 hours. The electric scooter is equipped with a digital display, LED headlights and lights, remote control, anti-theft device and reverse gear. The chassis is based on a telescopic shock absorber at the front and a single shock absorber for the rear wheel. Braking is with a disc brake at the front wheel and a drum brake at the rear.
Okaya plans to launch a total of 14 new models this financial year, including an e-motorcycle and e-powered two-wheelers tailored for businesses. The manufacturer currently sells its scooters through 120 dealers and aims to add another 800. Okaya has been producing batteries for e-vehicles since 2016, complemented by chargers and charging stations. The group has been in the electronics business for 35 years.
Two-wheelers and their components have to be certified according to the AIS guidelines in India. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will be pleased to support you with AIS certification and is also available to answer any questions you may have.
Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.