New Delhi — The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation in India’s rapidly evolving automotive landscape. With a remarkable portfolio of 27 cutting-edge technologies, 9 patents, and 2 design registrations, ICAT continues to lead the charge in strengthening the country’s R&D capabilities in the auto sector.
As a premier automotive testing and certification agency under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, ICAT’s influence extends far beyond infrastructure. Its experts have authored over 50 technical papers at prominent national and international forums, showcasing India’s growing intellectual capital in automotive engineering.
ICAT’s role in ecosystem-building is equally impressive. The institution has established more than 40 MoUs with elite academic institutions and global automotive bodies—including IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Roorkee, IDIADA-Spain, and TUV Rheinland-Germany—to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across borders.
In a strategic push to support innovation from the ground up, ICAT launched an Incubation and Acceleration Centre tailored for startups in the auto and allied sectors. This initiative is complemented by ICAT’s board membership in the Automotive & Allied Research and Technology Innovations (AARTI) Foundation, a Section-8 entity backed by IIT-Roorkee to uplift startups and MSMEs.
Through a range of workshops, webinars, and technical partnerships, ICAT is actively equipping emerging companies with industry know-how, validation services, and R&D support—cementing its role as a hub for skilling and innovation.
Parallelly, the Government of India is aggressively pushing policies to attract global investment and promote sustainable mobility:
- PLI Scheme for Auto Sector: With a ₹25,938 crore outlay, this scheme enhances manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products. 41 foreign companies have been approved so far.
- SPMEPCI Scheme: Launched in March 2024, this scheme allows the import of premium electric cars at reduced duty rates, encouraging foreign EV makers to invest ₹4,150 crore or more and meet domestic value addition targets.
- FAME India Phase-II: A ₹11,500 crore initiative supporting faster EV adoption, which ran till March 2024.
- PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Rolled out in April 2024 with a ₹10,900 crore budget, it supports the manufacturing of a broad range of electric vehicles including two-wheelers, trucks, buses, and ambulances.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission: A bold step toward green fuel, this initiative backs hydrogen-powered buses and trucks, and has already sanctioned five pilot projects, comprising 37 vehicles and 9 refuelling stations.
These efforts were detailed in a written reply by Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, during today’s Lok Sabha proceedings.
Together, ICAT’s technological leadership and India’s policy reforms are creating a fertile ground for next-generation mobility solutions—poised to make India not just a manufacturing hub, but a global leader in automotive innovation and sustainability.
