Govt proposes mandatory V2V communication systems in all new vehicles from Oct 2028

The government has proposed a phased rollout of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems in motor vehicles to improve road safety by enabling vehicles to exchange real-time information and warn drivers of potential hazards.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in a draft notification, said that vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2027, will be required to comply with the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-230 if they are equipped with V2V communication systems.

From October 1, 2028, all newly manufactured vehicles will have to be fitted with AIS-230-compliant V2V communication systems.

The ministry said the phased implementation would provide vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders adequate time to prepare for the new requirements.

How does V2V communication work?

Each vehicle equipped with V2V technology continuously broadcasts and receives data such as speed, location, direction, acceleration and braking status.

The system can alert drivers or onboard vehicle systems in situations such as sudden braking, risk of forward collisions, unsafe lane changes and the approach of emergency vehicles.

Unlike conventional vehicle safety systems that rely mainly on onboard sensors and driver response, V2V communication can provide information beyond the driver's direct line of sight.

Using short-range radio signals, vehicles can “talk” to nearby vehicles about their movement and behaviour.

When a potential risk is detected, the system alerts the driver, giving them extra time to react.

What does the AIS-230 standard require?

The ministry said AIS-230 lays down the minimum technical, functional, performance, environmental and security requirements for V2V communication systems operating on Indian roads.

The standard covers factory-installed On-Board Units using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band.

The Department of Telecommunications, through a notification issued on June 10, 2026, has exempted the use of this frequency band from licensing requirements.

AIS-230 prescribes requirements relating to radio performance, receiver sensitivity, satellite-based positioning, power supply, electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity and communication security.

It also provides for the phased introduction of safety applications, including Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving alerts and Emergency Vehicle Alert.

The ministry said a task force constituted for developing and implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) had recommended the use of the 5.9 GHz frequency range for V2V communication to improve road safety.

The draft rules have been placed in the public domain for comments and suggestions, which can be submitted within 30 days.