Why India Just Set A 2028 Deadline For Cars To Start 'Talking' To Each Other
Why India Just Set A 2028 Deadline For Cars To Start 'Talking' To Each Other Written By, Last Updated: August 04, 2026, 16:36 IST Cellular
Why India Just Set A 2028 Deadline For Cars To Start 'Talking' To Each Other Written By, Last Updated: August 04, 2026, 16:36 IST Cellular network not needed: MoRTH issued a draft notification introducing a phased timeline to integrate Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. Rapid Read News18 India is mandating Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems by October 2028 to drastically reduce its high rate of road traffic accidents. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification introducing a phased timeline to integrate Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. This technology allows vehicles to directly exchange data such as speed, exact position, and braking status in real time. PROACTIVE SAFETY BEYOND LINE-OF-SIGHT Traditional safety tech, such as standard cameras, radar, and driver reflexes, can only react to dangers that are directly visible. V2V communication bypasses these limitations Blinds Spots and Curves: Vehicles can “talk" around sharp bends or blind corners where visibility is blocked.
Weather Hazards: It provides crucial real-time driver warnings during low-visibility conditions like dense winter fog or torrential rain. Massive Pileup Prevention: If a car several vehicles ahead slams on its brakes, trailing cars are instantly alerted to prevent chain-reaction pileups. Critical Alerts: The system supports automated warnings for forward-collision risks, emergency braking, wrong-way driving, and approaching emergency vehicles. A RADICAL PHASED ROLLOUT PLAN To ensure automakers, component suppliers, and testing agencies have adequate time to adjust production lines, the government structured a two-stage roadmap under the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-230 safety protocol October 1, 2027: Any new vehicles that are voluntarily manufactured with V2V systems must strictly comply with the AIS-230 technical standard. October 1, 2028: The hard mandate takes effect. Every single newly manufactured vehicle in India must carry a factory-fitted, compliant V2V system. Uniquely, India’s mandate is among the first in the world to simultaneously target Category L (two- and three-wheelers) alongside Category M (passenger cars/buses) and Category N (goods trucks/commercial vehicles).
BUILT-IN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The government has proactively cleared massive regulatory hurdles to lower execution barriers for automakers. In June 2026, the Department of Telecommunications officially exempted the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band from licensing requirements. This 50 MHz slice of spectrum is dedicated strictly to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and active safety alerts. The On-Board Units (OBUs) utilize short-range direct radio signals. They communicate instantly with nearby vehicles over milliseconds without needing an active internet connection, network towers, or a SIM card. OBUs are projected to cost between ₹4,000 and ₹7,000 per vehicle, keeping the life-saving technology highly affordable for mass-market buyers. The primary goal of this ₹5,000 crore national project is to back the country’s broader target of halving road crash fatalities by 2030. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci...
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