IAC’s new GPS tracking device for commercial passenger vehicles

Indian Auto Company (IAC), a New Delhi-based DIPP registered start-up offering automotive solutions in tracking & telematics, smart infotainment, rear seat infotainment and driver fatigue systems using IoT-enabled hardware and platform, has added IAC 140 and IAC 140 CAN vehicle location tracking devices to its list of offerings which are both certified as per the AIS 140 standard by ARAI and ICAT respectively.

These vehicle tracking systems conforming to the AIS 140 Standard are being marketed through IAC’s network spread across 22 States and 70+ cities in India. According to a Gazette notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) dated October 25 and November 2, 2018, all public service vehicles and National Permit vehicles need to be equipped with tracking devices adhering to the AIS 140 standard from January 1, 2019, which is one of the necessary parameters to obtain a national permit.

“Our AIS 140-compliant vehicle tracking devices are also IP-67 rated (water and dust proof), enabling vehicles to be tracked on our device agnostic platform both on web and mobile devices ensuring safety and compliance. Citizens can be assured of safe transport with the availability of the panic button in case of emergencies, which can ensure timely response from the concerned authorities,” said the IAC Spokesperson.

He added: “The device also helps monitor driver behavior such as over-speeding, harsh acceleration, braking, cornering, night driving and other important parameters. This, in turn, ensures correct driving practice, thereby reducing wear and tear of the vehicle, improving fuel efficiency while also helping in overall safety of the driver, the passengers and other road users”.

Fleet tracking solutions offer various benefits to fleet owners, such as minimizing turnaround time, ensuring route adherence and optimization, checking malpractices such as unauthorized use of vehicle and misuse of fuel. It also enhances fleet safety, tracks the vehicle in case of theft and improves overall productivity and eventually profitability by ensuring safe driving practices.

The device also has additional ports for panic buttons and various other sensors which can be added as per the requirements of the user. The same can also be used for safe transportation of children in school buses.

Post implementation of this standard, all new vehicles covered under this Gazette notification will have to be AIS 140-compliant and will have to be fitted with Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) and Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) devices like the IAC 140, i.e., AIS 140-compliant devices. For the existing commercial vehicles, fleet owners can easily equip them with aftermarket solutions and make their vehicles compliant.

Globally, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) aim at improving transportation in terms of efficiency, quality, comfort and safety, and in India, MoRTH constituted a permanent Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) in 1997 which publishes automotive standards such as the current AIS 140 guidelines which detail ITS components required for public transport vehicle operation.

In addition to this product, IAC offers other tracking solutions for four-wheelers, two-wheelers, electric vehicles, assets and personal tracking. IAC also offers state-of-the-art, DVR (in dash camera), Advanced Driver Assistance System, Driver State Monitoring Systems (DSM) products which are enabling road safety and designed to increase the safety of not only the vehicle but also its occupants and other road users.