India Publishes New AIS Standards for Vehicle Safety, Emissions and Compliance
11. June 2026India has expanded its Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) framework with the publication of four new standards listed in the updated AIS standards catalogue released on May 7. The update introduces new requirements covering vehicle emissions testing, advanced safety systems, lighting devices, and onboard weighing equipment, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to align vehicle regulations with evolving international and domestic regulatory expectations.
The newly published AIS standards are relevant to manufacturers, importers, and automotive suppliers seeking market access and regulatory compliance in India. Automotive vehicles usually require AIS certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.
New Requirements for Emissions, Safety and Vehicle Systems
Among the newly released standards, AIS-175 establishes test methods, testing equipment specifications, and related procedures for vehicle type approval concerning emissions based on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). The standard is expected to support more consistent emissions assessment and strengthen regulatory oversight of vehicle environmental performance.
Vehicle safety requirements have also been expanded through AIS-185, which addresses Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) for M1 and N1 vehicle categories. The introduction of this standard reflects the increasing regulatory focus on active safety technologies designed to help reduce collision risks and improve road safety outcomes.
In addition, AIS-198 introduces requirements relating to light signaling devices and systems for power-driven vehicles. The standard provides a framework for evaluating signaling equipment that contributes to vehicle visibility and communication with other road users.
Implications for Manufacturers and Market Access
The fourth newly published standard, AIS-205, covers the implementation of interoperability and compatibility requirements for onboard weighing equipment. Such requirements can support harmonized operation of vehicle weighing systems and facilitate compliance with regulatory and operational expectations across different vehicle platforms.
Manufacturers supplying vehicles to the Indian market should review the technical provisions of the newly published AIS standards to determine their applicability to current and future product designs. Depending on vehicle category and intended market placement, additional testing, validation, and documentation activities may be required to demonstrate conformity with the relevant standards.
The publication of AIS-175, AIS-185, AIS-198, and AIS-205 demonstrates India’s continued development of its automotive regulatory framework, with increasing attention to emissions performance, advanced driver assistance technologies, vehicle signaling systems, and equipment interoperability. Companies involved in vehicle manufacturing, importation, and certification should monitor further guidance and implementation details published through official AIS and automotive regulatory resources.
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.
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