Key highlights
- AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) to be mandatory for new EVs from October 2026.
- Existing EVs must comply by October 2027.
- Applies to passenger and goods vehicles—aimed at reducing pedestrian accidents.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is about to change the way EVs roll in India. From October 2026, all new four-wheeled electric vehicles including cars, vans, and goods carriers, must come fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). Existing models get a one-year extension, with compliance mandatory from October 2027.
The reason is simple: EVs are too quiet. At low speeds, pedestrians, cyclists, and especially the visually impaired often can’t hear them approach. Studies show EVs are up to 50% more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents at speeds under 20 km/h compared to petrol or diesel cars. MoRTH wants to fix that—with sound.
What exactly is AVAS?
Think of AVAS as a voice for your EV. It’s a speaker system that kicks in at slow speeds (usually under 20 km/h), projecting artificial sound to alert people nearby. The tone could resemble an engine hum or other audible cues, and it has to meet the AIS-173 standard—loud enough to be heard, but not irritating.
This isn’t India reinventing the wheel. The US, Europe, and Japan already mandate AVAS. In fact, some EVs here like the MG Comet, Tata Curvv.ev, and Hyundai Creta Electric already ship with it.
Who’s in, who’s out
The mandate currently applies only to four-wheelers in passenger (M) and goods (N) categories. That means electric hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, vans, and even trucks.
But curiously, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and e-rickshaws are excluded for now—even though they’re just as silent (and sometimes more unpredictable). Experts believe that gap needs closing, given how many two-wheelers dominate Indian roads.
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