Talking cars coming from 2028: How V2V communication will change driving in India

Imagine a vehicle suddenly braking ahead- and your vehicle receiving an alert about it even before the situation becomes directly visible. Or a vehicle approaching from another direction sending information that could warn of a potential collision.
This is the idea behind Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, which the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed for a phased implementation in India.

According to a government press release, V2V systems will allow nearby vehicles to exchange real-time information such as speed, position, direction and acceleration.


The government said this information could provide advance warnings in safety-critical situations, including sudden braking, forward-collision risk, unsafe lane changes and the approach of emergency vehicles.

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When will vehicles start communicating?
The government has proposed a phased rollout. According to the draft notification, vehicles in categories L, M and N, manufactured on or after October 1, 2027, will have to comply with AIS-230 where they are fitted with V2V communication systems.

From October 1, 2028, vehicles in these categories manufactured on or after that date will be required to be fitted with V2V communication systems conforming to AIS-230, the government press release said.
The phased approach is intended to give vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders time to prepare for the proposed requirements.

What will ‘talking’ vehicles actually share?
The vehicles will exchange real-time information including:
-Speed
-Position
-Direction
-Acceleration

According to the government, this information can be used for safety alerts in situations such as Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving and Emergency Vehicle Alert. The government has proposed a phased introduction of these safety use cases.

How is V2V different from existing safety systems?
Conventional vehicle-safety systems primarily depend on onboard sensors and driver reaction, according to the government.
V2V communication, on the other hand, can provide information beyond the direct line of sight, the government press release said.

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The proposed system is therefore expected to complement Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and support proactive accident prevention, connected mobility and future intelligent transport applications.

What technology will power V2V?
The government has considered the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band for V2V and other Intelligent Transportation System applications.

The Department of Telecommunications, through G.S.R. 466(E) dated June 10, 2026, has exempted the use of this frequency band from licensing requirements, according to the government.

AIS-230 covers factory-installed On-Board Units using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band.

What is AIS-230?
AIS-230 lays down the minimum requirements for V2V communication systems installed in vehicles operating on Indian roads.
According to the government press release, the standard covers technical, functional, performance, environmental and security requirements.

These include requirements for radio performance, frequency stability and output power, receiver sensitivity and selectivity, GNSS and positioning, electrical and power supply, electromagnetic interference and compatibility, cybersecurity and communication security, as well as road-safety applications.

Why is the government bringing in V2V?
The Ministry had constituted a Task Force for the development and implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems, with a specific focus on V2V communication.

The Task Force recommended the use of the 5.9 GHz ITS/V2X frequency range for improving road safety, the government said.
The formulation of AIS-230 was also considered by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules–Technical Standing Committee at its 56th meeting on May 7, 2026.

According to the government, AIS-230 provides the technical foundation for the proposed regulatory implementation of V2V communication systems in India.

Is the 2028 rule final?
Not yet. The Ministry has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The government said suggestions and comments on the draft rules will be examined after 30 days, following which the final notification will be issued.

If the proposed timeline remains unchanged, the first phase would begin on October 1, 2027, with the next phase from October 1, 2028.

The government's stated objective is to improve vehicle situational awareness, facilitate timely safety warnings and strengthen connected technologies to help reduce road-accident risks.

So, “talking cars” may sound futuristic, but under the government's proposed framework, vehicles could soon be exchanging information with one another on Indian roads, with October 1, 2028, currently proposed as the key date for mandatory V2V systems in specified newly manufactured vehicles.