roposal to Make V2V Communication Systems Mandatory in India

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification proposing the phased mandatory adoption of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems in specified motor vehicles from 1 October 2028. The proposed measure aims to strengthen road safety by enabling vehicles to exchange important information with one another in real time.

Background

¨     The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had constituted a Task Force to develop a framework for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) with a focus on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication for improving road safety.

¨     The Task Force recommended adoption of 3GPP-based Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology, use of the 5.875–5.925 GHz (5.9 GHz) spectrum band, and an enabling regulatory framework for V2V deployment.

¨     Subsequently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on the regulatory framework for V2X communication, covering spectrum assignment, interoperability, licensing and cybersecurity.

¨     The present draft notification operationalises these policy initiatives by proposing the phased deployment of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems in motor vehicles.

Key Highlights of the Draft Notification

Two-stage Implementation:

¨     From 1 October 2027: Newly manufactured L, M and N category vehicles if fitted with V2V communication systems must comply with AIS-230.

¨     From 1 October 2028: Newly manufactured L, M and N category vehicles must be equipped with AIS-230-compliant V2V communication systems.

¨     Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, L denotes two- and three-wheelers, M denotes passenger vehicles with at least four wheels, and N denotes goods vehicles.

¨     Road Safety Objective: V2V systems will enable vehicles to exchange real-time safety information and provide advance warnings for situations such as Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving and Emergency Vehicle Alert, thereby helping reduce road accidents.

¨     AIS-230 Standard: Specifies the minimum technical, functional, radio performance, environmental and cybersecurity requirements for factory-installed On-Board Units (OBUs) using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in the 5.875–5.925 GHz frequency band.

¨     Enabling Regulatory Framework: The proposal follows the licence-exempt use of the 5.875–5.925 GHz frequency band for ITS/V2X applications and has been released for stakeholder consultation before final notification.

Understanding Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication

¨     Overview: Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication is a wireless technology that enables nearby vehicles to exchange real-time information such as position, speed, direction, acceleration and braking status, including safety information beyond the driver’s direct line of sight.

¨     Working Mechanism: Vehicles equipped with factory-installed On-Board Units (OBUs) continuously exchange real-time safety information using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology, enabling early detection of potential collision risks.

Key Advantages:

¨     Extends situational awareness beyond the range of onboard sensors and the driver’s field of vision.

¨     Enables cooperative collision avoidance through timely exchange of safety information.

¨     Supports proactive accident prevention by complementing vehicle safety systems.