What is NATRAX and why it is important for the Indian Automobile Industry?

National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) is a crucial asset for the Indian automobile industry, providing state-of-the-art ground for testing vehicles within the country, located in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is one of Asia’s largest and the world’s fifth-largest automotive proving grounds. On June 29, 2021, the track was officially opened by Mr.Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

NATRAX is designed to offer comprehensive testing facilities for automobiles, including cars, trucks, buses, two-wheelers and even military vehicles. NATRAX comprises various test tracks and facilities, including high-speed test tracks, durability tracks, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) tracks, wet handling tracks and hill tracks, among others.

The importance of NATRAX for Indian Automobile Industry

Testing Facilities: NATRAX provides comprehensive testing facilities that allow automobile manufacturers to conduct various tests under controlled conditions. This includes testing for performance, safety, durability, emissions and overall vehicle dynamics.

Cost-Effectiveness: Prior to the establishment of NATRAX, Indian automobile manufacturers often had to rely on testing facilities outside the country, incurring significant costs. NATRAX provides a cost-effective alternative by offering world-class testing facilities within India.

Quality and Standards: Access to advanced testing facilities like NATRAX helps Indian automobile manufacturers enhance the quality of their products and ensure compliance with international standards and regulations. This is crucial for competing in the global market.

Research and Development: NATRAX also facilitates research and development activities in the automotive sector. Manufacturers can use the facility to innovate, develop new technologies, and improve existing designs.

Attracting Investment: The presence of a world-class automotive testing facility like NATRAX can attract foreign investment in the Indian automobile industry. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to supporting the automotive sector and provides confidence to investors regarding the quality and capabilities of Indian manufacturers.

Types of test tracks

High Speed Track: This track is designed for testing high-speed performance, stability and aerodynamics of vehicles. It typically features long straights and high-speed corners to assess vehicle handling and stability at high velocities. The 11.3 km with four-lane high-speed track is one of the largest track in the world and is used for development and homologation testing of various vehicle types. Additionally, the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can carry out a wide range of testing on it, including mileage accumulation, noise and vibration measurement, coast down tests, brake tests, constant speed fuel consumption tests and speedometer calibration.

Dynamic Platform: NATRAX boasts one of the largest Vehicle Dynamic platforms globally, enabling a wide range of testing to be conducted on this track. A 1500-meter-long vehicle dynamics test area connects the 300-meter steering pad. It is possible to carry out all handling and dynamics stability testing, including slalom, fish hook, double lane change, J-turn and constant radius tests. There is no longitudinal slope on this course.

Braking Track: Braking tests on different surfaces are carried out on the braking track in order to obtain homologation. This track features a range of surfaces, including polish concrete, high friction asphalt, ceramic and basalt, from 0.15 to 0.9 mu. Tests for ABS, high-speed braking, assessing tyre performance etc. This track’s distinctive feature is its wide expanse of varying friction-coefficient surfaces. This track is suitable for testing vehicles in all categories.

Gradient Track: The Gradient track, also known as the Hill track, is used to test a vehicle’s torque capability as well as its gradient ability and parking brake efficacy on a slope.

Fatigue Track: This accelerated fatigue track, which ranges in severity from low to high, is intended to hasten the ageing of the vehicle’s structural elements. There are several different types of surfaces in this track, including potholes, washboards, resonance tracks, twist tracks, and Belgium pave. There are a total of 28 distinct profiles available, giving manufacturers a variety of alternatives to choose from when it comes to durability.

Gravel And Off-Road Track: The track is 3.5 km long overall. The track is divided into two loops first is the Forest/Off Road loop (width: 5m) and the second is the Gravel loop (width: 6m). There are many different types of off-road sections, such as mud tracks, village roads, twist ditches etc.

Handling Track: This track is 8 metres wide and 3.6 kilometres long. Curvature radius ranges from 20 to 300 metres. This circuit features two turns with a reverse slope and a road gradient ranging from 1.5% to 4.5%.

Comfort Track: This track is intended to assess the vehicle’s noise levels and riding comfort. Different surfaces exist, such as washboard, rough asphalt, standard asphalt combination, steps, studs, smooth and rough concrete, bridge joints and smooth and smooth pave combinations.

Handling Track For 2&3 W: This 1.5 km long and 6 m wide circuit is specifically made for two and three-wheeled vehicles.

Sustainability Track: This track is used to test vehicle cooling capabilities and simulate driving in hills. This track is 800 metres long and has a constant 8% slope.

Wet Skid Pad: This track has technical specifications such as a circular pad for the development of electronic stability control (ESP) systems and wet tyres. It also has two lanes one for asphalt and the other for basalt with varying adhesion coefficients. 

Use of Track: The wet skid pad is a low-grip track where traction control system (TCS) testing, tyre development and electronics testing can be done.

Noise Track: The homologation tests for Pass by Noise measurement and tyre noise measurement are conducted on the Noise track. 

Major Automobile tests carried out at Natrax

1. TVS Apache RR310 endurance test fitted with Apollo Alpha H1 Tyres: TVS Apache set a record of covering 3657.92 Km in 24 hours with an average speed of 152.2 Kmp/h.
2. Two Volkswagen Virtus 1.5-litre GTs, one Virtus 1-litre MT, and two Taigun 1-litre ATs endurance test. Results:

Max distance covered in 24 hours (overall): Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5l TSI: 4654.48km

 Max distance covered in 24 hours (sedan): Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5l TSI EVO: 4654.48km

 Max distance covered in 24 hours (SUV): Volkswagen Taigun 1.0l TSI: 4423.82 km

 Best fuel efficiency in 24 hours (Turbo petrol engine): Volkswagen Taigun 1.0l TSI, 29.8 kmpl

Average Speed: 194 Kmp/h

All this facilitates extensive testing of automobiles before it is launched in the market and puts the Indian automobile industry on par with global competition.