The recent inauguration of the one-of-a-kind NATRAX High-Speed Track in Pithampur, Indore, Madhya Pradesh by the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has sparked keen interest. The cutting-edge initiative under the National Automotive Testing and Research and Development (R&D) Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) is a collaborative venture between the Indian Government, several State Governments, and the Indian Automotive Industry. It marks a significant milestone in the automotive sector as it aims to establish an avant-garde testing, validation, and R&D infrastructure in the country.
About NATRAX
As part of the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP), NATRAX is a state-of-the-art automotive testing and certification centre, reputed as the most consequential initiative in the automotive industry. It is a Ministry of Heavy Industry’s flagship project that plans to pioneer a sophisticated testing, validation and R&D infrastructure. The centre’s revolutionary 11.3 km high-speed track, established within a sprawling 1000 acre expanse, is Asia’s longest and the world’s fifth-largest.
Testing Capabilities
Equipped with multifaceted testing capabilities, NATRAX can conduct a broad variety of tests like measurement of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high-speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvres such as lane change, high-speed durability testing, and more. With these extensive functionalities, it is poised to become a Centre of Excellence for Vehicle Dynamics.
Location and Accessibility
Being situated only 50 km away from Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s financial hub, the centre is strategically placed. Its central location offers convenient accessibility to most of the major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Significance of NATRAX
NATRAX’s High-Speed Track is critical in developing prototype cars for India as it allows the measurement of maximum speed capability of high-end cars like BMW, Mercedes, etc. These measurements are unachievable on any other Indian test tracks, prompting foreign OEMs to utilize their respective high-speed track abroad for high-speed test requirements. Now, they can leverage NATRAX for the development of prototype cars suited for Indian conditions.
A One-Stop Solution
The centre addresses multiple customer needs, offering a one-stop solution for diverse high-speed performance tests. Being among the world’s largest, it has the capacity to facilitate testing for a wide range of vehicles, from two-wheelers to the heaviest tractor-trailers.
This summary is based on information sourced from the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The inauguration of NATRAX affirms the significant strides India is making in establishing cutting-edge automotive infrastructure. With its varied capabilities, the facility is expected to revolutionize automotive testing and R&D, setting new benchmarks in the industry.
