
Maruti Suzuki opens two automated test tracks in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Check details
The test tracks include an 8 formation test, an H formation test and a dedicated area for two wheeler testing as well. Check Offers
Maruti Suzuki has inaugurated two Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in Uttarakhand. These ADTTs are situated in Haridwar and Rishikesh. With this, the total number of ADTTs by Maruti in Uttarakhand rises up to three. Both these new ADTTs will cater to driving license testing for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) and 2-wheelers.
In addition to automation of these two ADTTs, Maruti Suzuki operates an ADTT in Dehradun, since 2019. This facility won accolades from the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand for Excellence and Good Governance in 2019-2020. ADTTs are equipped with high-definition cameras and integrated IT systems to conduct driving license evaluations without human intervention.
Also Read : Maruti opens first automated test track in Ayodhya. Check details
This technology ensures a more comprehensive, efficient, and transparent testing process for driving license seekers. Evaluation at ADTTs is done in line with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR). Maruti Suzuki stated that due to the automated testing process, an initial decline is usually observed in the pass percentage of driving license seekers at ADTTs.
This is followed by a gradual increase in pass rate, as the applicants come better prepared, ensuring only skilled drivers receive a license. In case of Dehradun ADTT, the pass percentage declined to 60 per cent in FY 2019-20, which has progressively improved to 69 per cent. Brijesh Kumar Sant (IAS), Secretary Transport, Uttarakhand Government, stated that with the comprehensive evaluation at ADTTs, it can be ensured that only skilled drivers get a driving license.
Also Read : Road accidents in India: I try to hide my face in meetings abroad, says Nitin Gadkari What are ADTTS?
The ADTTs evaluate candidates through various tests such as reverse parallel parking, 8-formation, overtaking test, traffic junction test, gradient test for four-wheelers, and a serpentine track test for two-wheelers to assess vehicle-handling and control skills. Additionally, applicants undergo an emergency brake test and ramp test.
Maruti Suzuki India has been actively promoting road safety for over two decades, focusing on the five pillars of road safety: engineering, education, evaluation, enforcement, and emergency care.
Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape.
First Published Date: 26 May 2025, 14:06 PM IST
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
K-shaped market: Small cars in slow lane as first-time buyers seek premium SUVs
AMID DWINDLING CAR sales at the entry level, the market is witnessing a remarkable transformation as it sees a sharp uptrend in favour of premium models at the mid-level segment and above. Hyundai Creta, a premium feature-laden mid-segment SUV with prices starting at Rs 11 lakh-plus, has emerged as the country's top selling car in June 2025. With Maruti's Ertiga, a Multi-Utility Vehicle, the two accounted for almost two-thirds of all cars sold in the month. What is also remarkable is that nearly one in three Creta buyers is a first-time car owner. Officials in Hyundai said the contribution of first-time buyers in Creta's customer base has gone up sharply to 29 per cent in 2024 from just 12 per cent in 2020. The car market has had a mixed year in 2024-25. While it hit a new sales peak at 4.3 million, the growth was sluggish at just around 3 per cent, primarily due to the continuously declining sales of entry level cars. But other interesting trends unfolded during the year: in terms of powertrains, CNG overtook diesel for the first time ever. The rural share crossed 40 per cent, again a new high. While sports utility vehicles or SUVs continue to lead, the fastest growing segment was the MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicles), with rural or suburban sales accounting for a major chunk. Hatchbacks accounted for less than a quarter of the market, a new low. Hatchbacks and sedans put together, was less than a third of the market, and utility vehicles (SUVs, MPVs and vans combined) account for nearly 70 per cent. First-time buyers are picking the more expensive SUV or MUV. But the industry is divided on who exactly is a first-time buyer – individual who buys her or his first car or a family getting its first car? These are not the same. In Creta's case, it is both, with monthly income ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. What is certain though is a clear move towards premiumisation. According to Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the contribution of high-end features like ADAS-enabled cars increased almost six times to account for 15 per cent of Hyundai's overall sales in 2024. Also, 50 per cent of all cars Hyundai sells is equipped with a sunroof. 'Furthermore, we are introducing high demand premium features in lower variants across models facilitating a wider audience to get a taste of advanced technology-led mobility features,' Garg said. But in case of the UV segment, customers are said to be largely opting for base variants or those just above the base, primarily reflecting the propensity to eke out maximum bang for the buck. The entry-level car segment is in a bad shape, primarily due to two factors: higher price tag of Rs 4 lakh-plus due to better safety norms including six airbags, and sluggish income growth in the lower end of consumer base. The bigger problem is that an entry-level car costs nearly four times the prices of a scooter or motorcycle. Slowing consumption growth is a trend that seems to be getting entrenched, despite some signs of recovery in rural areas. While real wage growth for rural agricultural and non-agricultural workers is providing some support to overall consumption growth, in the urban areas, new demand is simply not picking up to the levels seen in the post-Covid phase. As a result, corporates are seeing their performance tapering off, especially in urban centres. Over the past decade, sales of small cars have steadily declined, and in recent years, more and more consumers are opting for the more expensive mid-segment cars. This could reflect rising aspirations of first-time buyers, but also erosion of purchasing power at the lower end of the consumer pyramid. Car companies are figuring it out. According to industry data, sales performance of entry-level cars priced below Rs 5 lakh – a crucial indicator of demand in the economy given that this segment largely attracts first-time buyers – is dire. This segment used to account for nearly a million units a decade ago – 9,34,538 to be precise in FY16. It has since declined to just 25,402 units in FY25. The Maruti Suzuki Alto, for instance, sold more than 18,700 units in June 2019, and was the best-selling then. In June 2025, the Alto and S-Presso combined sold a little over 6,000 units. Creta, a mid-segment car, on the other hand ranked number in the charts selling 15,786 units in June this year. Despite being the top-selling car, its June sales were less than the average monthly sale of 16,239 in the last financial year. A veteran industry executive said this is 'clearly a K-shaped curve in car buying habits in India'. In April-June 2025, passenger vehicle sales declined 1.4 per cent over the same quarter last year, and passenger car sales declined by more than 11 per cent in the same period. As such, not only is the expected graduation in a growing economy from two to four wheelers not happening, the former's growth itself is stalling. The two-wheeler segment sales dropped 6.2 per cent to 46.74 lakh units in April-June 2025, pulled down by motorcycles and mopeds. When juxtaposed, suggests a dwindling of purchasing power at the lower and middle-class segments In the cars' segment, it is the utility vehicles, which are not exactly entry level, or affordable, cars for a majority of Indians, that are saving the auto sector from a complete meltdown, a trend highlighted by the likes of the Creta and Ertiga being among the top sellers in June, accounting for nearly 66 per cent of all cars sold. According to data collected by the NGO People Research on India's Consumer Economy – which some carmakers refer to internally – car penetration in Indian households that have a yearly income of less than Rs 4 lakh reduced to 1.4 per cent in FY20, from 1.9 per cent in FY16. Car penetration in households that earn between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh annually also reduced to 8.3 per cent from 12.1 per cent in the same time period. Families with incomes of less than Rs 4 lakh and between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 7 lakh are said to make up for around 80 per cent of all Indian households. Though FY20 was the latest data available with a carmaker, they said the trend has not changed in the subsequent years. Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers' rights, privacy, India's prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Automakers accelerate flex fuel vehicle development ahead of new CAFE rules announcement
KOLKATA: Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) have all stepped on the flexi fuel accelerator following the minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari's recent remark that new Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) rules would balance both electric and flex fuel engines. This means the new CAFE 3 framework, due in April 2027, will give flex fuel vehicles that run on petrol-ethanol blends the same regulatory benefits as EVs. Flex fuel refers to petrol mixed with ethanol anywhere between 20% to 100% that is derived from the fermentation of sugars and starches found in plants. Gadkari's recent remarks follow a meeting he held last year with representatives of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in which he asked automakers to look into ways of making these flex fuel vehicles more acceptable to the public, citing Brazil's successful integration of flex fuels and biofuels in its transportation. During the Bharat Mobility Show 2025, automakers displayed flex cars — Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Toyota Hycross, Hyundai Creta, Tata Punch, and Mahindra XUV 3XO — that can run on up to 85-100% ethanol. While ethanol is less expensive than petrol, there is a downside to the fuel: it delivers less efficiency or mileage by 30% than pure petrol. Toyota plans to overcome this disadvantage by electrifying the flex fuel vehicle using strong hybrid technology. "Strong hybrid cars with petrol engines are usually 40% to 50% more fuel efficient than petrol-only vehicles. So the loss in efficiency from E100 will be more than compensated by the improved efficiency of a strong hybrid with less carbon footprints," said TKM Senior VP & director (technical & purchase) Sudeep S Dalvi, who expects the rollout of flex fuel vehicles to be aligned to government policies and regulations. Maruti Suzuki has in its 2030 product plan said 25% of its vehicles will be compatible with ethanol-blended fuel E20 while another 25% will be hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) . At present, it has two HEV products in its portfolio: the Grand Vitara and Invicto, which use Toyota's Strong Hybrid Technology.


Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
That rust bucket on wheels may cost a fortune in insurance, re-registration
The Centre is weighing higher fees to insure and re-register older cars, two officials aware of the discussions said, targeting so-called end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) that guzzle fuel and dirty the air. The ministries of road transport and finance are studying the proposal to discourage older vehicles by increasing their ownership costs, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Officials met industry executives earlier this month to discuss the matter. 'There were consultations held with the industry in July, and the government was of the view that end-of-life vehicles should be disincentivized. There is a consideration that insurance costs for such vehicles can be increased. Also, higher re-registration costs may also help in this regard," one of the two officials said on the condition of anonymity. Queries emailed to the two ministries remained unanswered. Currently, diesel vehicles in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) are considered end-of-life after 10 years, and petrol vehicles after 15 years. For the rest of India, the lifespan is 15 years for transport vehicles and 20 years for non-transport vehicles. The finance ministry is expected to frame a model that will allow insurers to charge more for ELVs based on their age, condition and emissions, the people cited above said. Besides, fees to re-register vehicles could be set at or above the cost of registering a new vehicle, with these changes potentially incorporated into the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. 'Under the plan, while vehicle scrappage would be the preferred route for old, unfit and polluting vehicles, those looking to extend the life after getting their vehicles tested would also be discouraged, with higher insurance and registration costs," the second official added. Carbon dioxide from vehicle exhaust makes up about 12% of air pollution, according to the International Energy Agency. The share is significantly higher in large cities like New Delhi, where air quality frequently reaches "severe" levels. Auto exhaust also includes harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The Delhi government recently attempted to enforce the rule by refusing fuel for ELVs, but the decision was deferred to November after a public outcry. Private sector insurers expressed support for higher premiums on older, polluting vehicles, citing both public health and mechanical failure risks. "Pollution from ELVs contributes to respiratory illnesses like asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)," said Arti Mulik, chief technical Officer at Universal Sompo General Insurance. "As insurers, we have a social responsibility to support the environment and public health." Mulik added that higher premiums could "reflect on their higher risk of mechanical failures, breakdowns and accidents" and encourage a shift towards cleaner alternatives like electric or compressed natural gas vehicles.