ARAI’s Digital Twin Lab Drives India’s EV Innovation with Hub-and-Spoke Model Across Pune, Bengaluru, and Guwahati

Pune, October 10, 2025: As India’s top mobility experts gather for the fourth edition of the Global Clean Mobility Summit, the spotlight is on the Automobile Research Association of India’s (ARAI) Digital Twin Lab — a pioneering facility set to redefine electric vehicle (EV) development through advanced simulation technology.

Supported by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the lab follows an innovative Hub-and-Spoke model, with its central hub located at ARAI in Pune, and two regional spokes — at Micelio Discovery Studio in Bengaluru and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. Operational since June 2025, the lab offers startups, MSMEs, and OEMs access to digital twin modeling, AI-driven simulations, and virtual validation environments for faster, cost-effective EV innovation.

Empowering India’s Green Mobility Mission

Dr. Reji Mathai, Director of ARAI, said, “ARAI is proud to expand its Digital Twinning services across India, from the west to the east and south. As India advances toward intelligent and sustainable mobility, we remain committed to empowering OEMs, startups, and innovators with cutting-edge digital capabilities. We thank the Ministry of Heavy Industries and our partner Micelio for their continued support in driving technology-led green mobility.”

The lab’s comprehensive digital twin capabilities enable the simulation of real-world conditions — including battery performance, drivetrain behavior, thermal management, and energy efficiency — before any physical prototype is built. This reduces both development time and cost while ensuring higher precision in vehicle validation.

Revolutionising EV Development for Startups and MSMEs

Mr. Shreyas Shibulal, Founder & Director of Micelio Mobility, highlighted the transformative potential of the initiative:
“This lab represents a fundamental shift in how India approaches EV innovation. By democratizing access to advanced digital twin infrastructure, we’re enabling startups and MSMEs to compete globally while designing solutions tailored to Indian conditions.”

Startups can now test, refine, and validate designs without heavy capital investment, allowing them to move from concept to commercialization more efficiently.

Aligned with India’s Clean Mobility Vision

The Digital Twin Lab directly supports national initiatives such as Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Digital Public Infrastructure, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global hub for clean, intelligent mobility.

Its debut at the Global Clean Mobility Summit 2025, themed “Next Starts Now: Sustain and Scale,” marks a turning point where simulation-led EV development is no longer aspirational but a measurable industrial reality.

As India accelerates its journey toward sustainable mobility, the ARAI Digital Twin Lab stands as a catalyst — bridging innovation, collaboration, and technology to build the next generation of electric vehicles.