Slated to be set up at an investment of Rs 500 crores, the new International centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT) at Manesar II Campus, will provide state of the art testing, validation and R AND D facilities to the automotive industry in the northern hub. iCAT is also being developed as a Centre of Excellence for component development and NVH.

The tracks for homologation and testing laboratories in new technology areas of Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH), EMC and Passive Safety will be a boon for both automotive OEMs as well as component manufacturers.

The new facilities at the Manesar II campus would include a power-train laboratory, engine dynamometers, emission laboratory with Euro V capability, a fatigue laboratory, passive safety laboratory, and vehicle test tracks. iCAT is now fully operational with complete homologations handled for many domestic OEs as well as component manufacturers.

The Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) was launched by the Prime Minister in 2006. NATRiP is the key instrument in achieving targets in the AMP. Currently National Automotive Testing and R AND D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) is on fast-track to set up five green field centres at Manesar, Chennai, Indore, Silchar, Rae Bareilly and upgradation of two existing centres at ARAI Pune and VRDE Ahmednagar.

Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Honble Chief Minister of Haryana graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Shri Arun Yadav, Honble Minister of State for Heavy Industries And Public Enterprises, Secretary Department of Heavy Industry Shri B S Meena and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Today we are taking another great step in bringing India closer to the cherished dream of becoming the hub of small car manufacturing in the world and as a leading global auto component manufacturer, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh stated.

He expressed his satisfaction at the progress of iCAT project and other initiatives under NATRiP and acknowledged the contribution of the state government of Haryana for making adequate land available.

The Minister also expressed satisfaction at the fact that Haryana was home to Indias largest 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler manufacturers and the largest automobile component industry.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda mentioned that in terms of total investments, the pace of growth had exceeded that of Maharashtra and he hoped that this newly laid Foundation Stone would give rise to a centre which would test the best qualities in automobiles.

Minister of State for Heavy Industries And Public Enterprises, Shri Arun Yadav expressed his happiness that this project was now on its way to complete realization as work would commence shortly and the facilities would be ready within a year. The facility would be very good for the Automotive industry in India as it would help them grow according to the Automotive Mission Plan and also benchmark Indian manufacturing vis-a-vis global competencies, Shri Yadav added.