Automatic emergency braking (AEB) could soon become standard on every new car sold in India. In a draft notification dated 19 October 2026, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) proposed that all new passenger car models launched from 1 October 2030 must have an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), and that every passenger car still in production must have it from 1 October 2032. As of 28 October 2026 this is only a draft, open for public comments, so nothing changes for the car you own today. But if you are buying a car in the next year or two, it is worth knowing what is coming and how to judge AEB on the cars you shortlist now.
What MoRTH has proposed
The proposal is a draft amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. It was reported by PTI on 22 October 2026 and covered in detail by Autocar Professional, CarWale and Business Today over the next two days. AEBS is a driver-assistance feature that watches the road ahead and applies the brakes by itself if the driver does not react to an impending collision, either to avoid the crash or to reduce how hard the impact is.
The draft uses two vehicle categories that matter to private buyers:
- M1: passenger vehicles with up to eight seats besides the driver. This covers practically every hatchback, sedan, SUV and MPV you can buy.
- N1: light goods vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, such as small pickups and vans. These are covered only by the testing standard for AEBS, not by the fitment mandate.
The AEBS fitted to these vehicles must meet the Indian standard AIS-185. The same draft also sets rules for steering, lane keeping, and safety systems on taxis, trucks and buses.
Proposed timeline at a glance
The dates below are taken from the published coverage of the draft. Remember that they can change after the consultation.
| Proposed date | What would apply | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2027 | Steering effort must meet AIS-193; cars with automatic steering functions must also meet it. Trucks get a revised braking standard and electronic stability control. | All motor vehicles (motorcycles and three-wheelers without a steering wheel exempt); trucks |
| 1 October 2028 | Any M1 or N1 vehicle that is offered with AEBS must comply with AIS-185 | Cars and light goods vehicles that already have AEB |
| 1 October 2029 | Emergency lane keeping, automatic steering functions and drowsiness/attention warning mandatory | M1 vehicles registered as transport vehicles, mainly taxis |
| 1 October 2030 | AEBS mandatory | New M1 models launched from this date |
| 1 October 2032 | AEBS mandatory | All M1 models, including those in production before October 2030 |
One point that can confuse readers: the 2028 date is not a fitment mandate. It only says that if a car or light goods vehicle has AEB, that system must meet AIS-185. The requirement to fit AEB on every car starts with new models in 2030 and covers all models in 2032. Autocar Professional also reports that new truck and bus models are set to get AEBS from January 2027, and that the ministry earlier proposed vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication on all newly made vehicles from 1 October 2028.
What it means for car owners and buyers
If you already own a car
Nothing in the published reports suggests that existing cars on the road will need to be retrofitted. The deadlines apply to vehicles being manufactured or new models being launched. Your current car stays legal, and there is no action to take on registration, insurance or PUC because of this draft.
If you are buying a car in 2026 to 2028
For now, AEB is available only on cars that offer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), usually on higher variants. Business Today notes that this is currently the only way to get the feature. So the choice is still yours: you can pay more for an ADAS variant today, or buy a lower variant without it. The proposed rules will not force any car off sale before 2032, so do not rush or delay a purchase only because of this draft.
If you plan to keep your next car for many years
Think about resale. Once AEB becomes the norm on new cars in the early 2030s, buyers of used cars may start to expect it, in the same way many now expect airbags and ABS. A car with AEB bought today may be easier to sell later. Our guide on whether to buy a used car explains how features and age affect value.
Will cars get costlier?
None of the reports we read gives a cost estimate for adding AEBS, and the draft coverage does not mention price effects. Sensors and software do cost money, so some effect on entry-level car prices is possible, but there is no official figure. Treat any number you see online as a guess until carmakers say otherwise.
The Indian traffic question
Business Today points out a real concern: many Indian drivers switch off AEB and auto-braking because these systems can react to the mix of two-wheelers, pedestrians, animals and sudden lane changes on our roads. It also notes the risk of being hit from behind if a car brakes sharply when the driver behind is not expecting it. That is one reason the draft ties the feature to an Indian standard (AIS-185), and why the long lead time matters: carmakers get several years to tune systems for local conditions.
For drivers, the practical lesson is simple. AEB is a backup, not a replacement for keeping a safe gap. If your car has it, learn how and when it warns you, and keep a sensible following distance, especially on highways and during a long road trip, so that a sudden stop does not catch the car behind you off guard.
What to do now: a buyer’s checklist
- Check the variant, not just the model. AEB usually comes with ADAS on top variants. Read the official brochure or the maker’s website for the exact variant you plan to buy.
- Ask the dealer for a demonstration. Ask how the system warns you, whether it can be switched off, and whether it stays off after you restart the car.
- Compare the price gap. Work out how much extra the ADAS variant costs over the next lower variant (ex-showroom price, as on-road prices vary by state), and decide whether the safety features and other add-ons are worth it to you.
- Look at crash-test results too. AEB helps avoid crashes; structure and airbags protect you when one happens. Check the car’s Bharat NCAP rating where available.
- Keep the windscreen and sensors clean. Driver-assist systems rely on cameras and sensors, so avoid stickers or accessories that block them, and get any windscreen replacement done properly.
- Have your say if you want. The draft is open for objections and suggestions for 30 days from when the Gazette copies are made available to the public. The method to send comments is given in the Gazette notice itself.
If you are also weighing up fuel type for your next car, our piece on hybrid cars that can cover 1,000 km on a tank may help with the shortlist.
Where sources differ
All four reports agree on the main dates: AEBS for new car models from 1 October 2030 and for all car models from 1 October 2032. Headlines vary, with some leading on 2030 and others on 2032, which simply reflects the two stages. Business Today describes the 2028 AIS-185 rule as applying to vehicles “manufactured from” that date, while CarWale and Autocar Professional describe it as applying to vehicles “offered with” AEBS; both readings mean it only covers cars that already have AEB. We could not access the Gazette text directly, so the details here come from press coverage of the draft.
FAQ
Is automatic emergency braking compulsory in India now?
No. As of 28 October 2026 it is a draft proposal open for public comments. If it is finalised as published, new car models would need it from 1 October 2030 and all car models from 1 October 2032.
Will I have to fit AEB to my existing car?
The published reports describe deadlines for vehicles being made and new models being launched. None of them mention retrofitting cars already registered.
Does the rule apply to taxis differently?
Yes. Passenger cars registered as transport vehicles, mainly taxis, would also need emergency lane keeping, automatic steering functions and driver drowsiness and attention warning from 1 October 2029, according to the draft as reported.
Bottom line
MoRTH wants every new car in India to brake for you in an emergency, with new models covered from October 2030 and all models from October 2032. It is still a draft, there is no retrofit requirement in the reports, and there is no official word on price impact. If you are buying now, treat AEB as a useful extra worth checking on the variant you choose, look at crash-test ratings alongside it, and keep driving with a safe gap, because the best braking system still works best with an alert driver.
Sources
- ThePrint (PTI): Govt proposes mandatory emergency braking systems for new cars by 2030
- Autocar Professional: MoRTH proposes mandatory emergency braking for all cars from October 2032
- CarWale: MoRTH proposes mandatory Automatic Emergency Braking System on all cars
- Business Today: Why new cars may need automatic emergency braking from 2030 under MoRTH proposal
