India could soon see
driverless cars on its roads as proposed amendments to the motor vehicles law
will empower the government to permit the testing of such vehicles, an area in
which companies such as Google, Tesla and Uber are heavily engaged.
"The government will allow testing of these vehicles on a case-by-case basis once the law is in place," a top roads ministry official told ET.
The move will allow Indian carmakers and technology firms to join the global race to develop self-driving cars. Tata Elxsi the Tata Group's design and technology firm, has been planning to test driverless cars. The company declined to comment for this report.
The new provision is part of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which had grabbed headlines for its focus on safety and hefty penalties for traffic violations.
"In order to promote innovation and research and development in the fields of vehicular engineering, mechanically propelled vehicles and transportation in general, the central government may exempt certain types of mechanically propelled vehicles from the application of the provisions of this Act," reads a clause in the amendment.
The Bill, introduced in Parliament in August last year, has since been referred to a parliamentary standing committee.
"Once cleared, any innovation in transport sector such as semiautonomous and fully autonomous vehicles, both passenger and commercial, could be tested in India," said the official cited above.
Such tests will require the permission of the transport department of the union roads ministry, the person said.
While conditions are currently not conducive for driverless cars in the country, the changes will help prepare the ground, said Abdul Majeed, partner at PwC.
"The government will allow testing of these vehicles on a case-by-case basis once the law is in place," a top roads ministry official told ET.
The move will allow Indian carmakers and technology firms to join the global race to develop self-driving cars. Tata Elxsi the Tata Group's design and technology firm, has been planning to test driverless cars. The company declined to comment for this report.
The new provision is part of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which had grabbed headlines for its focus on safety and hefty penalties for traffic violations.
"In order to promote innovation and research and development in the fields of vehicular engineering, mechanically propelled vehicles and transportation in general, the central government may exempt certain types of mechanically propelled vehicles from the application of the provisions of this Act," reads a clause in the amendment.
The Bill, introduced in Parliament in August last year, has since been referred to a parliamentary standing committee.
"Once cleared, any innovation in transport sector such as semiautonomous and fully autonomous vehicles, both passenger and commercial, could be tested in India," said the official cited above.
Such tests will require the permission of the transport department of the union roads ministry, the person said.
While conditions are currently not conducive for driverless cars in the country, the changes will help prepare the ground, said Abdul Majeed, partner at PwC.
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