Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has commissioned a ‘Homologation and Technology’ centre at Chakan on the outskirts of Pune. Inaugurated by Anant Geete, Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, the centre, established under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) of the Government of India, will offer homologation services to automobile manufacturers for Indian and global export markets. Claimed to have been set up with an investment of Rs. 370 crore, the centre comprises a passive safety laboratory, powertrain laboratory, fatigue and materials laboratory, and an automotive electronics laboratory. The powertrain laboratory will test vehicles, engines and powertrains; the fatigue and materials laboratory will help predict structural failures; the passive safety laboratory will provide homologation support for future crash regulations while adhering to the Bharat new vehicle safety assessment programme, and the automotive electronics laboratory will aid testing of electric and hybrid electric vehicles.