ABS to become mandatory for all 2-wheelers from next year: Report

The entry-level models make up 78% of the total two-wheeler sales in India. (Representative image)

To enhance the safety of two-wheelers, the government is planning to make anti-lock braking system (ABS) a standard feature among all the motorcycles and scooters sold in India, according to a report.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will soon issue a notification on this matter, a report by The Economic Times said.

At present, ABS is mandatory for two-wheelers with an engine capacity of more than 125 cc. It prevents wheel lock-up during sudden and hard braking, thereby, minimising risk of an accident.

According to data from the industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), 1,96,07,332 units of two-wheelers were sold in India in FY25. At 1,53,10,587 units, models having an engine capacity of less than or equal to 125 cc accounted for 78.09% of the total domestic volumes.

The official data from MoRTH showed that the share of two-wheeler riders (44.5%) in fatalities during road accidents was the highest in 2022. There were 1,68,491 fatalities in road accidents in 2022 with the two-wheeler riders accounting for 74,897 deaths.

Sector experts said that the addition of ABS in entry-level two-wheelers will increase their prices by at least Rs 2,000. There might be an impact on the volumes as this is a very price-sensitive segment, they noted.