AIS Certification: Automotive Industry Standards Compliance
Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) are the technical rules a vehicle or component has to pass before it can be type approved in India. Compliance is proved through testing at an agency listed in Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, such as ICAT or ARAI. We work out which AIS apply to your product and handle the paperwork and application around the testing.
What it is
AIS are India’s automotive technical standards, framed under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVR) and largely based on UN and European vehicle regulations. They cover safety, lighting, electric powertrains, tracking devices and many components. “AIS certification” is the everyday name for showing, through tests by an approved agency, that your vehicle or part meets the AIS that apply to it.
Two committees shape the standards. The Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) drafts them, and the CMVR Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC) reviews them and sends its final proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) publishes them on behalf of the AISC. Testing and the type approval certificate come from an agency listed in Rule 126 of the CMVR.
Who it applies to
Vehicle manufacturers
Every new model must be tested against the AIS and CMVR provisions that apply to its category before it is approved for sale.
EV and battery companies
Electric vehicle makers deal with the electric powertrain standards, AIS-038 (Rev. 2) for M and N category vehicles and AIS-156 for powertrain components including batteries, motors and controls.
Component suppliers
Makers of parts that have their own AIS, such as lamps, mirrors, safety glass or tracking devices, need test reports and approval so vehicle makers can fit them. A Faridabad lamp maker courting a two-wheeler brand, for instance, will be asked for its AIS test record before any trial order.
Vehicle tracking device makers
AIS-140 covers NavIC-based vehicle location tracking systems. Device makers get their units tested and approved against it.
Importers
Rule 126 applies to importers as well, so imported vehicles are tested against the same standards before sale.
Retrofitters
Altered, retrofitted or adapted vehicles are type approved by a Rule 126 agency, or self-certified by the original maker.
Why it matters
Clear the approval gate
Type approval follows only when the tests show compliance. Miss one applicable AIS and the approval waits.
Stay clear of Section 182A
Section 182A(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 allows a fine up to ₹100 crore, or jail up to one year, or both, for a manufacturer that fails to follow the construction rules.
Protect the people who ride
These standards exist because a failed brake or battery hurts people. A clean test record is your answer when a buyer asks.
Documents required
Business records
- Certificate of company incorporation or firm registration
- PAN and GST registration
- Import Export Code, for importers
- Udyam certificate, if registered
- Brand and trademark details
Product records
- Specification sheets in the AIS-007 format (for vehicles)
- Drawings, ratings and datasheets of each part
- Supplier approvals for bought-out parts
- Samples or prototype for testing
Quality records
- Factory address and process flow
- Inspection and test records
- Plan for conformity of production checks
How it works
Map the applicable standards
We list every AIS and CMVR requirement that applies to your vehicle category or component, and your engineers confirm it.
Prepare the business file
We align the company name, address and signatory across your registrations so the test reports and certificate match.
Compile the technical dossier
Your engineers supply the data. We organise it, in the AIS-007 format for vehicles, and check for gaps before submission.
Apply to a testing agency
We file with ICAT, ARAI or another Rule 126 agency and coordinate sample delivery, test dates and observations.
Track approval and COP
Once the agency issues its certificate, we track conformity of production checks and any change approvals.
Common AIS standards at a glance
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| AIS-007 | Format of technical specification information a manufacturer submits for type approval (Rule 126 refers to Rev. 5:2014 as amended) |
| AIS-017 | Procedure for type approval and certification; Part 2 (Rev. 2):2016 covers agricultural tractors |
| AIS-038 (Rev. 2) | Electric powertrain requirements for M and N category vehicles |
| AIS-156 | Electric powertrain components, including batteries, motors and control systems |
| AIS-140 | NavIC-based vehicle tracking systems |
| AIS-098 and AIS-099 | Offset frontal crash (AIS-098) and side impact with a mobile deformable barrier (AIS-099) |
| AIS-100 | Pedestrian protection |
Here is the catch: some automotive items, such as tyres, also need the BIS ISI mark under a separate BIS licence. That is a different certification from AIS testing, and a product can need both. A Faridabad trader planning to import tyres for resale should check the BIS side before placing the first order.
Timelines
Mapping: a few days
Once we have your product details and drawings, the list of applicable standards is usually ready within days.
Testing: agency-led
In practice, the testing agency sets the pace. It depends on how many standards apply, the test slots and how fast observations are closed.
After approval: keep producing to spec
Rule 126A provides for conformity of production testing of vehicles drawn from the production line, so compliance continues.
What happens if you skip AIS compliance
No type approval
Without passing the applicable standards, the testing agency will not issue the type approval certificate, and Rule 126A requires it to give reasons for any denial.
Fines per vehicle or part
Section 182A(1) provides ₹1 lakh per vehicle for selling non-compliant vehicles, and Section 182A(3) ₹1 lakh per non-compliant safety component, each with up to one year’s jail.
Certificate suspended
The Central Government can cancel or suspend a type approval certificate under Rule 126A if its conditions are breached, after hearing the holder.
Frequently asked questions
What does AIS stand for?
AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical standards for vehicles and components in India. They are framed under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and largely drawn from UN and European regulations. The AIS Committee drafts them, the CMVR Technical Standing Committee reviews them, and ARAI publishes them. Your product is tested against the ones that apply to it, and we help you find out which.
Who issues an AIS certificate?
A testing agency listed in Rule 126 of the CMVR issues the test reports and type approval. The list has nine agencies, including ICAT Manesar, ARAI Pune, GARC Chennai and NATRAX Indore. Taxhint does not test products or issue certificates. We prepare the business documents, organise your technical file and handle the application with the agency you choose, so your engineers can stay on the product.
Is AIS the same as BIS certification?
No, they are different. AIS are automotive standards applied through CMVR type approval by Rule 126 testing agencies. BIS certification, the ISI mark, is a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards for products under a Quality Control Order, and automotive tyres are one such product. A component can need both. We check your product against both lists at the start so neither surprises you later.
Which AIS applies to electric vehicles?
Two key ones are AIS-038 (Rev. 2), which sets electric powertrain requirements for M and N category vehicles, and AIS-156, which covers electric powertrain components including batteries, motors and control systems. Your vehicle will also be tested on the general CMVR requirements for its category. A Faridabad EV start-up, for example, should map these before freezing the battery design. We help you put that map together early.
What is AIS-140?
AIS-140 is the standard for NavIC-based vehicle tracking systems, the location devices fitted in vehicles. A device maker gets each model tested and approved against it before supplying vehicle makers or operators. As with other AIS, testing is done by an approved agency. We handle the business documents and the application, so paperwork never holds up the approval.
What is AIS-007 used for?
AIS-007 sets the format of the technical specification information a manufacturer submits for type approval. Rule 126 of the CMVR refers to AIS-007 (Rev. 5):2014 as amended from time to time. Your engineers fill in the technical data, and we check it for completeness and consistency with your company records. A clean AIS-007 file is the simplest way to avoid repeated queries.
Does an imported component need AIS testing?
If the component is covered by an AIS that applies under the CMVR, it needs to meet that standard before it is used in an approved vehicle, whether made in India or imported. Ask the agency early whether existing overseas test reports can be used. We coordinate between the overseas supplier, the Indian importer and the testing agency so the documents line up.
What happens if we change the design after approval?
Changes that affect a tested standard usually need the agency’s review, and some need fresh tests. Tell us before changing the battery, motor, lamps or any part covered by an AIS. We take the change to the testing agency for an extension. Selling a changed product on an old approval risks action under Rule 126A, so it is worth the short check.
How much does AIS testing cost?
Testing charges are set by the agency you choose and depend on the standards and tests involved, so there is no single government fee. You pay the agency directly. Our professional fee covers the mapping, documents and application work, and we give you both figures in writing before work starts. If you are a registered MSME or start-up, keep those certificates ready too.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Testing and certification charges are set by the Rule 126 agency for the standards and tests involved, and are paid to the agency directly.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product’s category and drawings, and we will map the AIS that apply and start the testing file.