Government Proposes Mandatory V2V Communication Systems From 2028

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed making V2V communication systems mandatory on all newly manufactured L, M and N category vehicles from October 1, 2028. The draft notification seeks to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and remains subject to final approval.

MoRTH has introduced a new standard, AIS-230, to govern V2V communication systems. Manufacturers that voluntarily offer the technology from October 1, 2027, will need to comply with this standard a year before the wider mandate takes effect. The draft has been opened for public consultation for 30 days.

Image Source: PTI

L category covers two-wheelers, M category includes passenger vehicles, and N category comprises commercial vehicles. Together, these classes account for nearly every vehicle type sold in India, making this one of the broadest connected-vehicle mandates proposed anywhere in the world.

AIS-230 mandates the use of factory-fitted On-Board Units built on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything technology, operating in the 5.875GHz to 5.925GHz band. The Department of Telecommunications exempted this spectrum from licensing requirements through a notification issued on June 10, 2026.

The standard lays down minimum technical, functional, performance, environmental and cybersecurity requirements. These span radio performance, receiver sensitivity and selectivity, GNSS and positioning accuracy, electrical and power-supply specifications, electromagnetic interference compatibility, and communication security.

AIS-230 also defines four safety applications: Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving Alert and Emergency Vehicle Alert. These let vehicles exchange real-time data and warn drivers of hazards before they become visible.

How V2V Communication Works

V2V-equipped vehicles wirelessly exchange speed, position, direction and acceleration data using C-V2X technology. Conventional ADAS, by contrast, relies on cameras, radar, other onboard sensors and driver inputs, which only detect hazards within their line of sight.

MoRTH states the technology is meant to complement ADAS rather than replace it, supporting accident prevention and future intelligent transport applications. Warnings can cover sudden braking, forward-collision risks, unsafe lane changes and approaching emergency vehicles.

V2V Communication: Implementation Challenges And Costs

Automakers will need to integrate and validate these systems across their model lineups, while also ensuring the technology works reliably between vehicles made by different manufacturers. Interoperability across brands is expected to be one of the bigger hurdles.

Earlier estimates suggested On-Board Units could add Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 to a vehicle's cost, though the latest draft notification does not address the cost angle. Cybersecurity, data protection and user privacy remain additional concerns flagged around the rollout, especially with regards to the sharing of user data.

V2V technology has been under development globally for more than two decades, yet widespread adoption remains limited even in markets like the US, Europe, China and Japan, where trials and partial rollouts are further along.