Overview of AIS Certification

AIS stands for the Automotive Industry Standards, which are the automotive technical standards for India based on the UNECE standards. AIS Certification was launched in 1989 with the adoption of India Central Motor Vehicle Rules, i.e., CMVR, where the rules and regulations are published in relation to the vehicles, traffic controls or production and maintenance of motor vehicles. 

The Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) are granted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, MoRTH. MoRTH is the ministry established by the Government of India for regulation of the automotive sector in India. The aim of AIS is to improve the safety of traffic and means of transport. 

There are following these three authorities are responsible for the issuance of AIS Certification:

• International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT) 
• Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)
• Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA)

AIS is mainly introduced for safety requirements, and so it is mandatory for many types of safety-related products or parts of a vehicle. 

Benefits of AIS Certification 

Following are the benefits of having an AIS Certification:

• Aids in vehicle performance monitoring 

Manufacturers give data relevant to the vehicles, assistance to the operators in delivering timely service and extracting the best performance. 

• Ensures passenger safety 

The main aim of AIS is to improve the safety that is provided in commercial vehicle services and make journeys safer for all passengers. 

• Improvements to the public transportation 

Public transportation is the most important part of the public at large in India. It helps in route tracking and optimises the journeys to the destinations. 

• Monitoring driver’s aspects

AIS Certificates provide data on the vehicle’s speed, time length and other similar habitual aspects permitting the vehicle operator to be traced in the event of a rash or drunk driving. 

Products Covered under AIS Certification

Currently, 26 products are considered mandatory and voluntary certified with the Automotive Industry Standards, AIS. Some of such products are also required to get BIS Certification. The followings are the products that need to be mandatorily AIS Certified:

• Brake hoses
• Tyres
• Horns
• Carburettors
• Rear view mirror
• Lights, bulbs and replaceable LEDs
• Speed limiting devices
• Door locks and hinges
• Seat belts 
• tanks
• safety Reflectors 
• Warning triangles 
• Number plates
• Windscreen wiper blades
• Lead batteries
• Safety glass 
• CNG regulators 
• Wheel rims 
• Bulbs 
• Lights or lights signalling devices 
• Retention components 
• Reflective tape 
• Battery (Lead Acid) 
• High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP)
• Rear marking plate
• LPG Vaporiser and Regulator 
• Luminaires
• Retro reflector
• Child restraint systems 

Glass and wheels were getting AIS Certified until 2019, but now they are subject to mandatorily BIS Certified from 2020. 

Documents required for AIS Certification

Following is the list of all the relevant documents that are required while filing an application to get the AIS Certification:

• Control Plan (COP Plan)
• English translation of manufacturer’s extract from the commercial register 
• Quality Manual 
• Flowchart of production steps 
• Existing ISO Certificates 
• List of raw materials used 
• Drawing of products 
• Test reports of five important raw materials 
• List of machines used 
• In-house test reports of the products to be certified
• List of test equipment used 
• Calibration reports of test equipment used 
• Job description of test personnel 
• Test plan or frequency 
• Training plan for the test personnel 
• Standard updating procedure 
• Customer feedback or complaint form 
• Description of testing requirements 
• Procedural instruction for non-conforming parts
• Temperature and humidity verification laboratory 
• Some of the AIS forms 
• Other required documents 

Procedure of AIS Certification

Following are steps that are required to be followed while obtaining the AIS Certification:

• Filing of application 

Applicant must file an application to the relevant Authority for obtaining the AIS Certification.  

• Documentation 

An applicant has to file all the relevant documents along with the application for AIS Certification, and it must also provide the requisite fee for the same to the appropriate Authority. 

• Factory inspection 

Factory inspection is conducted by the relevant Authority and the Indian auditors after receiving the application filed by the applicant.

• Product testing and marking

Testing of all the products to be registered is performed after receiving the application for AIS Certification. The product is also marketed accordingly after such testing. 

• Certification 

After being satisfied with the result of factory inspection and product testing, the appropriate Authority issued the AIS Certification in the name of the applicant.