India mandates advanced emergency braking for new cars from October 2030

New cars must carry advanced emergency braking from Oct 2030

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification on 19 Oct 2026 that obliges manufacturers of M1‑category vehicles – essentially passenger cars – to fit Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) on every new model launched on or after 1 Oct 2030. The rule follows the AIS‑185 standard, which will be updated as technology evolves.

Existing models caught up by Oct 2032

For cars that are already in production but whose design predates the 2030 cut‑off, the draft says the AEBS requirement will take effect on 1 Oct 2032. That means any model still rolling off assembly lines after that date must be equipped with the automatic braking technology.

Parallel upgrades for trucks

The same document also tightens safety standards for heavy vehicles. From 1 Oct 2027, trucks must meet a revised braking standard and adopt electronic stability control (AIS 162), a system that helps maintain control during emergency braking on curves.

How AEBS works

AEBS monitors the road ahead with radar or camera sensors. If the driver fails to react to an imminent collision, the system applies the brakes automatically, either avoiding the crash or lessening its severity. MoRTH says the move is aimed at curbing the high number of road‑traffic fatalities that India records each year.

Implementation timeline

The draft rules will become effective after a 30‑day period following their publication in the Gazette of India. Industry stakeholders have until then to align design, testing and production processes with the new standards.

Why the government is pushing the change

Beyond the obvious safety benefits, the ministry frames the regulation as part of a broader push to modernise India’s automotive ecosystem. By aligning with international safety norms, the government hopes to boost consumer confidence, attract higher‑value vehicle exports and showcase India’s ability to deliver world‑class infrastructure.

What manufacturers need to do

Car makers will have to integrate AEBS hardware and software into upcoming models, obtain certification against AIS‑185 and update production lines for existing models slated for a 2032 rollout. Truck manufacturers must similarly certify compliance with the AIS 162 stability control requirement.

Looking ahead

If the draft becomes law, India will join a growing list of countries where automatic emergency braking is mandatory for new passenger cars. The step is expected to contribute to the nation’s goal of halving road‑traffic deaths by 2030, a target highlighted in recent government safety reports.