Pune: ARAI Unveils India’s First ADAS Test City to Boost Road Safety and Smart Mobility
Pune, 12th February 2026: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on Wednesday unveiled the operational readiness of its landmark ADAS Test City at THE ADAS SHOW 2026, marking a major step toward safer and smarter mobility in India.
Located at Takwe near Talegaon on the outskirts of Pune, the 20-acre facility is India’s first purpose-built, pseudo-urban test environment designed to mirror real Indian road networks and traffic conditions. The ADAS Test City will allow automotive manufacturers and technology firms to test and validate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in a controlled, safe and repeatable setting before deploying them on public roads.
ARAI officials said the facility bridges the gap between simulation, closed-track testing and real-world driving, enabling evaluation of safety technologies under Indian conditions. It is expected to play a key role in improving road safety and accelerating the adoption of intelligent vehicle systems.
THE ADAS SHOW 2026, organised by M/s Aayera at the ARAI Test City, brought together senior government officials, global automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers and technology innovators. Live demonstrations showcased ARAI’s testing protocols, instrumentation and certification capabilities. Among those present were Dr Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI; Elie Luskin, Vice President (India & China) at Mobileye; Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director at HERE Technologies; and Syed Fareed Ahmed of M/s Aayera.
Speaking at the event, Dr Reji Mathai said ADAS technologies are central to improving road safety and that ARAI remains committed to supporting safe, smart and sustainable mobility. He noted that the ADAS Test City is India’s first dedicated on-road proving ground for validating driver-assistance and autonomous technologies under real-world Indian conditions.
He added that support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries under the Capital Goods Scheme had enabled the creation of modular infrastructure for comprehensive verification and validation of ADAS systems. According to ARAI, the facility will also support indigenous development of ADAS and autonomous technologies, benefiting India’s growing start-up ecosystem.
Syed Fareed Ahmed, Director of M/s Aayera, said THE ADAS SHOW has emerged as a national platform for dialogue and innovation in vehicle safety and intelligent mobility. He said collaborations between institutions like ARAI and industry players are critical to accelerating India’s leadership in advanced automotive technologies.
Delegates at the event witnessed live, on-track demonstrations of next-generation ADAS features, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Monitoring, Pedestrian Detection, Night Vision Systems, Traffic Jam Assist and Automatic Parking.
ARAI said the immersive demonstrations highlighted the growing role of ADAS in enhancing road safety, driver awareness and readiness for automated driving, reinforcing India’s progress toward future-ready mobility.
About ARAI:
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is a cooperative industrial research association working with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. It provides R&D, testing, certification, homologation and regulatory support to ensure safer, cleaner and more efficient vehicles, backed by advanced infrastructure and skilled professionals.
