Govt's new move to make official vehicle data mirror real-world performance

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Come April 2027, carmakers selling vehicles in India will have to comply with testing standards which are stricter and much more aligned with real-world conditions.

The government has notified a new global testing standard, which will replace the two decade-old testing standard currently used to certify vehicles. The shift means cars will be tested under tougher, more real-world driving conditions before they are approved for sale.

As a result, petrol and diesel vehicle standards will be more aligned with those of other global markets, while some experts believe this can also initially increase compliance costs.

The ministry of road transport and highways notified the introduction of Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Test Procedure (WLTP) for BS6 norms from April 2027, on Wednesday, which will mark the transition from the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC) for automakers in the country. This aligns India with the European standards of testing vehicles for pollutants.

Simply put, WLTP and MIDC are testing standards that measure a vehicle's fuel efficiency, pollutants, and emissions before it is allowed to be sold in the country. For electric vehicles, the standards help measure the vehicle's range in real-world conditions.

Amit Bhatt, India managing director at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), said that the introduction of the WLTP standard is an attempt by the government to ensure that compliance with emission and pollutant standards reflects real-world conditions. While the government has currently notified the change in the measurement of pollutants under BS6 norms, it could soon be followed by the measurement of fuel efficiency and emissions under