Lexus LM 350h becomes first car in India to receive WLTP certification

Key Highlights

• ARAI has issued India’s first WLTP compliance certificate under AIS:175 to Toyota Kirloskar Motor for the Lexus LM 350h.
• WLTP compliance becomes mandatory in India from April 1, 2027.
• Toyota pursued the certification voluntarily, nearly a year ahead of the deadline.

The Lexus LM 350h has made history as the first vehicle in India to receive a Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Test Procedure (WLTP) compliance certificate. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) issued the certificate under the new AIS:175 standard to Toyota Kirloskar Motor, with the formal handover taking place at an official event attended by senior officials from both organisations.

Toyota did not wait for the regulatory deadline to act. WLTP compliance becomes mandatory in India from April 1, 2027, for all M1 and M2 category vehicles, which covers passenger cars, vans, and buses with a gross weight under 5 tonnes. By completing the process nearly a year ahead of schedule, Toyota becomes the first automaker in the country to comply with the upcoming standard.

What is WLTP?

WLTP replaces India’s current Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC) testing protocol, which is a lab-based procedure that has long been criticised for producing fuel efficiency and emission figures that bear limited resemblance to real-world performance. WLTP uses a more dynamic and detailed testing methodology that accounts for a wider range of driving conditions, speeds, and variables. The result is that official efficiency and emission figures under WLTP are expected to be significantly closer to what owners actually experience on the road.

For consumers, this means the mileage figure on a brochure will finally start to mean something.

About the Lexus LM 350h

The LM 350h is a flagship ultra-luxury hybrid MPV powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-hybrid engine producing 247 BHP and 239 Nm, paired with an eCVT and an E-Four all-wheel drive system. Under WLTP testing, it returns 13.68 kmpl. It is available in 4-seat and 7-seat configurations, priced between Rs 2.20 crore and Rs 2.75 crore (ex-showroom).

With the April 2027 deadline approaching, other manufacturers are expected to begin WLTP compliance processes for their own vehicle portfolios. Toyota has simply been the first to move.

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