India’s automotive testing sector is dramatically transforming as it races to bridge the gap with global standards while confronting distinctive local challenges. In an extensive interview with Tyre Trends, two industry leaders discuss how India is navigating this critical transition period in its automotive evolution.

Dominic Cundy, Managing Director of Automotive Testing Expos at UKi Media & Events, and Sagar Bendre, Head of Crash Barrier Testing at NATRAX (National Automotive Test Tracks), provide detailed insights into the current state and future trajectory of India’s automotive testing landscape.

UNIQUE CHALLENGES

India’s diverse and extreme climate creates unique testing requirements that set it apart from other major automotive markets. “India’s extreme weather variations, including high temperatures, monsoons and dust-heavy environments, and a wide range of road quality require testing protocols tailored to these unique challenges. OEMs do develop a vehicle considering all these conditions,” Bendre explains.

The pressure to maintain affordability while meeting increasingly stringent standards presents another layer of complexity. “The Indian market’s focus on affordable vehicles puts pressure on manufacturers to minimise testing costs while maintaining compliance with stringent safety and emission standards,” says Bendre.

This balancing act between cost and compliance has become increasingly challenging as India adopts stricter safety and emissions standards.

The gap between India’s testing capabilities and those of other major automotive nations stems from multiple factors. Bendre notes that specialised facilities for advanced testing remain limited compared to developed markets. “India lacks sufficient facilities for advanced crash testing, real driving emissions (RDE), EV battery safety and autonomous vehicle testing, which are more established in developed countries,” reveals Bendre.

This infrastructure gap has historical roots. “India’s focus on automotive testing infrastructure began relatively recently compared to countries like Germany, US and Japan, which have decades of advanced R&D and testing experience,” Bendre explains. The rapid pace of regulatory changes has further complicated the situation as testing facilities struggle to meet new requirements.

MARKET EVOLUTION AND INDUSTRY RESPONSE

The growth of India’s automotive testing sector is reflected in the expanding scope of industry events such as the Automotive Testing Expo India. Cundy provides perspective on this evolution: “When the show (Automotive Testing Expo India) was first launched in 2010, it attracted 72 exhibitors and 2,173 visitors. This contrasts with the 2023 figures, with 153 exhibitors and 5,138 visitors.”

This growth reflects not just increased market size but also growing technological sophistication. To maintain relevance, industry events have had to evolve rapidly. “We maintain constant communication with suppliers to learn about their latest offerings and innovations and encourage exhibitors to prioritise showcasing their newest products during the event. We also partner with industry leaders, influencers and innovators in the region,” Cundy explains.

The Automotive Testing Expo India organiser partners with startups and emerging brands, which are typically at the cutting edge of innovation and offer the latest products. In addition, their knowledge partner, ARAI, offers valuable insights into the current market demands and challenges.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE IMPACT

The transition to electric vehicles is driving significant changes in testing requirements. Bendre outlines how testing facilities are adapting to this shift, noting increased emphasis on battery safety, thermal management and charging infrastructure compatibility.

Major manufacturers are making significant moves in this space. Cundy highlights recent developments: “Mahindra’s EV initiative includes launching five new EVs on a new platform called INGLO. They are partnering with VW, which is supplying components. Skoda is currently undertaking a big initiative in India, which includes the development of new vehicles in the country.”

SAFETY STANDARDS AND TESTING EVOLUTION

Road safety remains a critical concern driving testing requirements. “There is a big push in India to improve road safety, with Bharat NCAP 2023 launching, because there are still high numbers of road deaths despite advances in technology,” Cundy notes. The limited availability of crash testing facilities has historically forced manufacturers to send vehicles abroad for testing, adding time and expense to the development process.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Government support is crucial in advancing testing capabilities. “Government initiatives like the NATRAX project and private investments will enhance the availability of state-of-the-art testing facilities across the country. NATRAX is developing all future testing, such as ADAS, EV performance, road safety furniture, crash barriers, crash cushions etc.,” Bendre explains.

The implementation of new regulations is driving further development. Bendre points to the implementation of Bharat Stage VI (BS6) and upcoming updates like BS6.2 as key factors increasing demand for sophisticated emissions testing capabilities.

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

The industry is increasingly embracing digital solutions to enhance testing efficiency. “The use of digital twins, simulation tools and AI-driven predictive testing is reducing time and costs for physical prototypes,” Bendre notes. This technological integration is helping bridge the gap between testing requirements and available physical infrastructure.

A critical challenge facing the sector is the shortage of skilled professionals. “A shortage of skilled professionals trained in advanced testing methodologies, particularly for EVs and connected vehicles, hinders the growth of India’s testing ecosystem,” Bendre acknowledges. However, he sees this changing through partnerships with global testing agencies and investments in workforce training, which will help bridge expertise gaps and elevate India’s standing as a global automotive testing hub.

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Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its partnerships in India’s premier men’s T20 cricket league to eight teams, adding Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season as it seeks to strengthen its position in the country’s consumer tyre market.

The company said its BKT Tyres brand would continue as Official Tyre Partner to Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, alongside the newly added Bengaluru franchise.

The move comes as BKT advances its entry into India’s consumer tyre segment, using the tournament as a platform to expand visibility and engage a broader customer base, including commercial operators and private vehicle owners.

The partnerships are structured as long-term arrangements, incorporating stadium branding, broadcast integrations, dealer activations and digital campaigns aimed at strengthening fan engagement.

Rajiv Poddar, JMD of BKT, said: “Partnering with sporting institutions has always been central to BKT’s philosophy of Growing Together with communities. Cricket is one of the most influential cultural forces in India, uniting people across geographies, generations and backgrounds. Our continued partnerships as the Official Tyre Partner under the BKT Tyres brand allow us to connect with audiences in a meaningful way while strengthening our presence in the tyre segment. Through this association, we will further amplify our ‘Elevate Your Drive’ campaign featuring Ranveer Singh across broadcast and digital touchpoints, bringing the campaign’s message of ambition, progress and forward momentum to millions of viewers. These collaborations reflect our commitment to building long-term relationships founded on teamwork, performance and shared aspirations.”

Venky Mysore, Chief Executive of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “BKT Tyres is not just a partner they are a brand that shares our relentless pursuit of performance. This renewed association is a testament to the trust we have built together and the ambition we carry forward. As BKT accelerates its growth in India's consumer market, the Knight Riders brand gives them the platform, the passion, and the global scale to make that journey count. At Knight Riders Sports, we do not build partnerships for visibility alone we build them for impact. This collaboration is precisely that: two performance-driven organisations, aligned in purpose, investing in a future they intend to win together.”

Rajesh Menon, Chief Executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru is proud to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner. At RCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, embracing ambition, and creating meaningful connections with our fans, values that closely align with BKT’s ‘Elevate Your Drive’ philosophy. Together, we aim to accelerate our shared vision of excellence, resilience, and forward momentum both on and off the field.”

K Shanmugam, Chief Executive of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: “We are happy to continue our partnership with BKT Tyres as part of this T20 cricket league. This collaboration reflects a strong alignment of values, bringing together a shared focus on excellence, performance, and consistency. Together, we move forward with clear intent, committed to raising standards both on and off the field, while delivering a meaningful and engaging experience for fans.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer of Rajasthan Royals, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres for the sixth year, with a shared energy and drive for performance that continues to strengthen our association. Their commitment to sport, and cricket specifically, reflects a clear focus on the growth of the game and its fan ecosystem in India. As we advance in scale and influence, we look forward to building on this partnership in a meaningful way this year as well.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been a valued long-term partner of Mumbai Indians, and this continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to consistency and performance. We look forward to building on this partnership through the season.”

Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Gujarat Titans, said: “Gujarat Titans are pleased to continue the association with BKT Tyres. Partnerships like these reflect a shared commitment to performance, consistency and long-term growth. Such collaborations provide a strong platform for teams and brands to connect with fans across the world, and we look forward to building on this association while continuing to engage meaningfully with our supporters and striving for excellence both on and off the field.”

Satish Menon, Chief Executive of Punjab Kings, said: “We are very happy to continue our journey with BKT Tyres. They have been a loyal and valued partner for the Punjab Kings over the years. Their commitment to excellence matches our ambitions, and it is always a pleasure to work with a brand that understands the pulse of the sport and its fans so well.”

Vinay Chopra, Chief Executive of RPSG Sports Private Limited, said: “At Lucknow Super Giants, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition. Our association with BKT Tyres reflects this synergy, as both brands are committed to pushing boundaries and consistently striving for excellence. As we gear up for another exciting season, we look forward to engaging our fans more deeply and creating meaningful experiences together through this partnership.”

BKT said its sports partnerships form part of a broader global portfolio spanning multiple disciplines, aimed at reinforcing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

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Goodyear India Limited said its board has taken note of the resignation of Abhishek Arora as Director – Human Resources, India, with effect from April 20, 2026, and approved the appointment of Vishal Dhingra as HR Director, South Asia from April 21, 2026.

Arora, who will also cease to be a senior management personnel member on April 20, 2026, resigned to explore external growth opportunities, according to the company.

The board approved Dhingra’s appointment following the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. He will assume the role as a senior management personnel from April 21, 2026.

Dhingra has more than 25 years of experience in human resources. He joined Goodyear in July 2020 as Director HR – India and currently serves as HR Director – ASEANZ. Prior to this, he held roles at PepsiCo, India, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited, Eicher Tractors and Ballarpur Industries Limited.

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India has concluded that imports of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR) of the 1500 series from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Thailand were dumped, following an anti-dumping investigation initiated in March 2025.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, found that dumping margins across all subject countries were above the de minimis threshold and “significant”.

The investigation was launched after Reliance Industries Limited filed an application alleging injury from imports of the product, which is widely used in tyre manufacturing and other rubber goods. The authority determined that the application met the requirements for standing, with support from Indian Synthetic Rubber Private Limited.

The product under consideration, ESBR-1500, is primarily used in tyres due to its abrasion resistance and ageing stability. The DGTR concluded that domestically produced material is comparable to imported goods and can be used interchangeably.

The period of investigation covered October 2023 to September 2024, with injury analysis spanning four financial years. During this time, imports from the subject countries rose overall and accounted for more than 90 per cent of total imports throughout the period.

The authority found that import volumes were highest during the investigation period and had increased relative to domestic production and consumption.

Dumping margins varied by country. Imports from the European Union and Japan were found to have margins in the range of 10–20 per cent, while Russia showed higher margins of 20–30 per cent. South Korea and Thailand recorded lower ranges, generally between 0–10 per cent for cooperating producers and up to 10–20 per cent for others.

The DGTR conducted a cumulative assessment of imports, concluding that goods from the subject countries compete with each other and with domestic production in the Indian market.

On injury, the authority determined that increased imports had affected the domestic industry through price suppression and declining profitability. It noted that while demand for the product rose steadily, the domestic industry’s financial performance weakened over the same period.

The DGTR also rejected arguments that the injury was caused by internal inefficiencies or raw material volatility, stating that such fluctuations were global and not specific to India.

The authority concluded that dumped imports had caused material injury to the domestic industry, establishing a causal link between import volumes and the deterioration in financial performance.

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Fornnax Technology, a global leader in recycling equipment manufacturing, has officially brought Sushil Upadhyay on board as the new Head of its Service Department, a leadership transition that takes effect immediately. With a professional background spanning over 26 years, Upadhyay arrives with extensive experience drawn from multiple multinational corporations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed and coordinated large, cross-functional teams comprising more than 300 professionals. Within his new capacity at Fornax, his primary focus will involve steering strategic transformations within the service domain, with the objective of optimising equipment reliability, maximising value across the lifecycle of machinery and elevating the sustained performance of the company’s worldwide installed base of industrial recycling solutions.

In the coming year, the service division under his leadership is set to concentrate on a series of clearly defined operational objectives. Key among these is the effort to curtail instances of unexpected machinery downtime by integrating both preventive and predictive maintenance approaches. The team also intends to roll out measurable performance benchmarks for service delivery, which will include tracking metrics such as speed of response, Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and overall equipment uptime. Moreover, there will be a concerted push to reinforce the availability of spare components by optimising regional warehousing and distribution processes.

Further developments on the agenda involve the creation and delivery of well-structured training modules targeting technical expertise and workplace safety, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of service personnel. In parallel, the organisation plans to introduce digital tools designed to boost transparency in operations and enable customers to more effectively monitor service activities. These combined efforts underscore Fornnax’s commitment to evolving its service infrastructure in response to growing demands for efficiency and reliability.

Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “Our people are the true engine behind our innovation and execution. As we scale globally and expand our footprint across diverse recycling applications, cultivating a culture of excellence remains central to our strategy. In 2026, we are intensifying our focus on talent development, leadership growth and building a high-ownership, high-accountability environment that drives continuous improvement across engineering, manufacturing, and service. This will set new benchmarks in the industry, and I believe Upadhyay will play a crucial role in this journey.”

Upadhyay said, “Fornnax’s strong positioning in high-capacity shredding solutions and its commitment to sustainable recycling deeply resonated with me. The company’s engineering strength and rapid growth trajectory present a powerful opportunity to build a world-class service organisation. In an industry where machine reliability directly impacts customer profitability, service becomes a direct driver of customer success. I am excited to elevate Service from a support function to a strategic growth enabler, which is specifically focused on uptime, lifecycle value and long-term partnerships.”

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