About NAB

National Automotive Board (NAB), is an autonomous body was established under Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) , to promote, coordinate, and oversee the development of the automotive sector in India. NAB represents a unique joining of hands between the Government of India, a number of state governments and Indian Automotive Industry for Testing, Validation and automotive R&D in the country. It plays a crucial role in advancing new mobility solutions, research & development (R&D), and policy formulation to strengthen India’s position as a global automotive hub. The National Automotive Board (NAB) has three state-of-the-art Greenfield automotive testing centers across India to support the country’s growing automobile industry. These centers play a crucial role in vehicle validation, homologation, and research & development (R&D), ensuring that vehicles manufactured in India meet both national and international standards for safety, performance, and environmental compliance. The three premier centers under NAB’s initiative are:

International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) – Manesar, Haryana

Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) – Oragadam, Tamil Nadu

National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) – Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh

Beside three state of the art automotive test centers National Institute of Automotive Inspection, Maintenance & Training (NIAIMT) located in Silchar, Assam, is another center serves as a center of excellence for vehicle inspection, maintenance, and skill development in the Indian automotive sector. At present the center is under the administrative control of ICAT.

Aim & Objectives of the National Automotive Board

The National Automotive Board (NAB) serves as the central repository of data, knowledge, and expertise related to the automotive sector. It plays a crucial role in policy formulation, regulatory support, and technical guidance to ensure the growth and sustainability of the industry.

One of its primary responsibilities is to gather, analyze, and assess data, reports, and trends related to various aspects of the automotive sector. This includes areas such as automotive testing and homologation, road safety, air quality, vehicle population, auto fuel policies, and automotive research and development. Based on these insights, NAB provides recommendations to the government for policy assessment, formulation, and revision. The Board also engages in forecasting, scenario-building, and research paper preparation as required by the authorities.

In addition, NAB acts as an advisory body, offering technical inputs and administrative support for policy-related decisions and government initiatives in the automotive industry. It assists in shaping India’s stance on international automotive agreements, including foreign trade agreements, WTO discussions, and clean energy initiatives. Furthermore, the Board plays a key role in helping the Department of Road Transport frame automotive sector regulations and implement new programs such as electric mobility and the framework for end-of-life vehicles (ELV).

The NAB is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of various schemes and initiatives within the sector. It functions as the National Certification Board for vehicles and components, issuing certification based on reports from government-approved automotive test centers. Additionally, the Board is tasked with formulating policies related to test lab accreditation, technical oversight, and audit of automotive testing facilities. In case of non-compliance, it recommends suitable actions to maintain regulatory standards.

To ensure consistency in testing procedures, NAB standardizes test protocols across all affiliated centers and conducts correlation audits and benchmarking. It also serves as an appellate body to resolve disputes related to automotive testing, certification, and accreditation. Moreover, the Board administers and monitors the operations of testing centers under the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), ensuring quality control, competitiveness, and benchmarking of facilities.

Through these functions, the National Automotive Board plays a vital role in strengthening the Indian automotive sector by fostering innovation, ensuring compliance with international standards, and supporting government policies aimed at sustainable mobility and road safety.