Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has confirmed that its advanced wind tunnel facility at the company’s R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, has now been certified by two of India’s leading automotive testing bodies, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT). The certification, announced in New Delhi on 16 July 2026, allows Honda to use the Tochigi wind tunnel facility to carry out testing that supports Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) certification requirements for its India-specific models.
Certificates Handed Over in Person
The ARAI certificate was presented by Dr Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, to Mr Udit Kumar, SVP and Director of HCIL, while the ICAT certificate was handed over separately by Mr Saurabh Dalela, Director of ICAT, also to Mr Udit Kumar. Senior officials from both ARAI and ICAT were on hand for their respective handover ceremonies.
What This Certification Means for Honda in India
With this certification in place, Honda Cars India can now use its wind tunnel facility alongside chassis dynamometer facilities for ‘Vehicle Road Load Determination’, a requirement laid out under the AIS:175 regulatory standard. This standard makes WLTP adoption mandatory in India from 1 April 2027, so getting ahead of the curve on testing infrastructure is a significant move for Honda. The company describes the certification as an important step in using its global R&D network to support homologation and regulatory compliance in the Indian market.
What is WLTP and Why It Matters
WLTP, or the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, is a globally recognised testing method designed to give a more accurate and representative picture of a vehicle’s fuel consumption, energy consumption and exhaust emissions. It was developed under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and is already the standard testing procedure in markets including Europe, Japan and South Korea.
The timing is notable, as India moves towards adopting WLTP-based testing procedures nationally, a shift that calls for precise, reliable aerodynamic testing to properly assess vehicle efficiency and emissions. With its wind tunnel facility now certified, Honda is positioning itself to stay compliant with these evolving regulatory requirements for its future model line-up in India.
Honda’s Take on the Announcement
Commenting on the certification, Mr Takashi Nakajima, President & CEO of Honda Cars India Ltd., said the company was pleased to receive certification from both ARAI and ICAT for its wind tunnel test facility to support the upcoming WLTP certification requirements in India. He added that while this is a notable milestone, it also reflects Honda’s ongoing commitment to engineering excellence and staying ahead of changing regulatory standards.
