[Tushar]

Continental India has announced that its chassis & safety division will begin the local production of ABS, ESC / ESP systems in India this year. A new assembly line for ABS and ESC for passenger cars will be located in the existing Continental automotive brake systems plant in Gurgaon, Haryana. The company is targeting the delivery of its first localized ABS / ESC products for India to an undisclosed vehicle manufacturer, by the end of 2016.

ABS systems for two-wheelers will also be produced at the same plant at a later stage, which will put Continental at a good strategic standpoint, given the upcoming vehicle safety norms that will be enforced. The recent draft notification from the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandates that new two-wheeler models with an engine capacity exceeding 125cc manufactured from April 1, 2017 onward need to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems and all existing two-wheeler models exceeding 125cc need to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems from April 1, 2018.

The local production of Continental's Electronic Control Units (ECUs) has been planned for the year 2018 in Bangalore.

[Karthik Chandra]

Link to the press release

http://www.continental-corporation.c...indien_en.html

The increase in demand for safety features from the market has created an impact and is proving to be fruitful . Expecting ABS and airbags to become common across all segments

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by Tushar

...new two-wheeler models with an engine capacity exceeding 125cc manufactured from April 1, 2017 onward need to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems and all existing two-wheeler models exceeding 125cc need to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems from April 1, 2018.

What does this mean? Those who own a 2-wheeler of 125CC and beyond as of today and plan to use it after March 2018 should they get ABS retrofitted on their vehicles? Will the manufacturers' service centers do this job? Also, considering the number of 2-wheelers on the roads across India, even if we consider a 20% of these are 125CC and above (for lack of better data), are we ready to implement this retrofit in such a short timeframe? I can think of N number of logistical challenges here.

[DWind]

It talks of existing models and not existing vehicles. So any new Two Wheeler manufactured after 1-Apr even if it is an existing model will have to comply. It is possible that most manufacturers will start complying even before this date

[Motard_Blr]

Originally Posted by Zappo

What does this mean? Those who own a 2-wheeler of 125CC and beyond as of today and plan to use it after March 2018 should they get ABS retrofitted on their vehicles? Will the manufacturers' service centers do this job? Also, considering the number of 2-wheelers on the roads across India, even if we consider a 20% of these are 125CC and above (for lack of better data), are we ready to implement this retrofit in such a short timeframe? I can think of N number of logistical challenges here.

I think that it's a case of poor language skills. My interpretation is that all new models of 2 wheelers of 125 CC or more (so far not homologated) shall be equipped with ABS from 2017. All currently homologated two wheelers of 125 CC or more shall be equipped with ABS from 2018.

Retrofitment of ABS to existing two wheelers is probably so impractical that it can be considered impossible.

[Tushar]

Originally Posted by Zappo

What does this mean? Those who own a 2-wheeler of 125CC and beyond as of today and plan to use it after March 2018 should they get ABS retrofitted on their vehicles? Will the manufacturers' service centers do this job? Also, considering the number of 2-wheelers on the roads across India, even if we consider a 20% of these are 125CC and above (for lack of better data), are we ready to implement this retrofit in such a short timeframe? I can think of N number of logistical challenges here.

Originally Posted by Motard_Blr

I think that it's a case of poor language skills.

Yes, the official wording is a bit too open for interpretation for something that will be industry regulation. The operating word here would be "models". There is definitely no question of retrofitting ABS to motorcycles that have already been sold.

My interpretation is that all new models of 2 wheelers of 125 CC or more (so far not homologated) shall be equipped with ABS from 2017. All currently homologated two wheelers of 125 CC or more shall be equipped with ABS from 2018.

[Saanil]

I am not aware of the 2 wheeler market so please bear a basic question from my side - do any models of the bikes/motorcyles which are sold currently offered with ABS? Manufacturers being mandated to put it is a welcome step! Is something similar being planned for cars?

[Motard_Blr]

Originally Posted by Saanil

I am not aware of the 2 wheeler market so please bear a basic question from my side - do any models of the bikes/motorcyles which are sold currently offered with ABS? Manufacturers being mandated to put it is a welcome step! Is something similar being planned for cars?

India made ABS equipped models:
TVS Apache 180 RTR (optional)
KTM Duke 390
Honda CBR 250R (optional)

[Saanil]

Originally Posted by Motard_Blr

India made ABS equipped models:
TVS Apache 180 RTR (optional)
KTM Duke 390
Honda CBR 250R (optional)

I assume these are all high end bikes (assuming the numbers represent the cc of the engine)? So no ABS in economy bikes in the likes of Hero Splendor and Bajaj CT100?

ABS would be very useful during rainy season wherein the 2 wheelers face challenging driving conditions.

[Motard_Blr]

Originally Posted by Saanil

I assume these are all high end bikes (assuming the numbers represent the cc of the engine)? So no ABS in economy bikes in the likes of Hero Splendor and Bajaj CT100?

ABS would be very useful during rainy season wherein the 2 wheelers face challenging driving conditions.

You are right in assuming these are premium models. However, the TVS Apache which is priced about Rs. 1 lakh would be within reach of many potential buyers, whereas the other two are priced at more than 2 lakhs.