AITWA Scouts ADAS Tech for Fleets Ahead of April 2026 Mandate

The All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) has officially announced a strategic partnership with The ADAS Show 2026, scheduled for February 12 in Pune. This move comes as the Indian commercial vehicle sector braces for a significant regulatory shift, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) set to mandate advanced safety features for heavy vehicles starting April 2026.

In a formally issued Expression of Interest (EOI), AITWA confirmed it will lead a delegation of major fleet operators to the event with a clear mandate: to identify and adopt scalable safety technologies that align with upcoming compliance norms.

The Regulatory Context: Racing Against the Clock

The timing of AITWA’s intervention is critical. Under draft notifications from MoRTH, all new heavy passenger and goods vehicles manufactured after April 1, 2026, must be equipped with Level 1 ADAS features, including Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS), and Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems (DDAWS).

With the deadline less than three months away, AITWA’s participation indicates a push to not only meet OEM standards but also explore retro-fit solutions for existing fleets to improve safety and insurance viability.

The Tech Shopping List

According to the EOI document, AITWA is specifically seeking partners and exhibitors across three core verticals to present at the show:

1. ADAS & Driver Monitoring

The association is looking beyond basic sensors, specifically requesting demonstrations of forward collision warning, blind spot detection (BSD), and Vulnerable Road User (VRU) alerts tailored for chaotic Indian road conditions. The wishlist includes AI-dashcams and Video Telematics capable of detecting real-time risky behaviors like harsh braking and overspeeding.

2. Tyre Intelligence

Recognizing tyre failure as a major cause of highway accidents, AITWA has explicitly invited companies specializing in Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) and predictive maintenance analytics. This includes technologies for load and axle pressure monitoring, essential for preventing blowouts in overloaded trucks.

3. Telematics & Efficiency

To offset the costs of these safety upgrades, the association is scouting for Route Optimization, Fuel Monitoring, and IoT-based asset tracking solutions that promise a return on investment through operational efficiency.

Venue: India’s First “ADAS Test City”

The event will be hosted at ARAI’s ADAS Test City in Takwe, Pune. Originally slated to open in December 2025, the facility’s launch was delayed to February 2026 due to extended monsoon rains hindering track construction.

The facility is India’s first dedicated “pseudo-city” proving ground, designed to validate autonomous and ADAS systems in a controlled environment. It features real-world infrastructure elements such as traffic lights, roundabouts, Euro NCAP-standard junctions, and mixed-traffic simulation zones.

Industry Implications

For technology providers, AITWA’s direct involvement offers a rare streamlined channel to India’s fragmented logistics market. “This EOI is issued to invite industry-leading companies to meet, interact, and demonstrate solutions directly relevant to the fleet and logistics ecosystem,” the association stated.

Companies offering AIS-153 (bus construction/safety) and AIS-140 (tracking) compliant devices have been highlighted as priority partners for the event.