TL;DR
India has mandated Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) for all new electric vehicle models approved from October 1, 2026, requiring them to emit sounds at low speeds for pedestrian safety.
As of October 1, 2026, India has implemented a new safety regulation mandating that all new electric car, bus, or goods vehicle models approved must be equipped with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). This system requires electric vehicles to emit a sound at low speeds, enabling pedestrians to hear their approach. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified these Central Motor Vehicles (First Amendment) Rules, 2026, on January 6, 2026, following public feedback.
The introduction of AVAS is a crucial step to address the near-silent operation of electric motors at low speeds, which can pose a safety risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and the elderly, particularly in busy urban environments or parking areas. The AVAS employs an external speaker to generate an artificial sound that varies with speed, being most active when the vehicle is moving slowly or in reverse. This regulation aligns India with global practices, as similar sound systems are already mandatory for electric vehicles in regions like the European Union, the United States, and Japan. Existing EV models will need to comply with this new rule by October 1, 2027.
