2W firms' plea against ABS installation junked

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has turned down a plea by two-wheeler (2W) companies to not make installation of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all new 2Ws—internal combustion engine (ICE) or electric—above 50 cc or with speeds over 50 kmph mandatory from January 1, 2026.

- SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

The move, if implemented, will require 2W companies to fork out around ₹7,300 crore annually to make the vehicles safer. The draft mandate requires all ICE 2Ws below 125 cc and electric below 11 kWh to install ABS. Earlier it was mandated for 2Ws over 125 cc only and electric above 11 kWh. If implemented, the new rule will impact 77 per cent of the sales of 2Ws below 125 cc, and in electric, mostly all the vehicles in a 20 million per annum market.

Companies say that it would cost them an additional ₹3,500-6,000 per vehicle, depending on the model or whether it is electric or an ICE vehicle, so they will have no choice but to increase prices.