Continental, a Tier 1 supplier in the automotive industry, is set to bring its radar-based advanced rider assistance systems (ARAS) to the Indian two-wheeler market. The company supplies several safety components, including anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for two- and four-wheelers, airbag control units and ESC systems for passenger vehicles in India.
The rollout will begin with motorcycles and scooters already equipped with ABS. Dr Anshu Gupta, a director at Continental in Germany, explained, “We have had an ARAS solution already in production globally for the last three years, and we are now trying to bring it to the Indian market. However, we are still assessing which category within the two-wheeler segment to target.”
The company says it is focusing on two-wheelers equipped with ABS, and will likely target motorcycles and scooters in the 125cc and above category, which in India requires an ABS solution for enhanced safety. Continental has developed a 4D imaging radar sensor that enables rider-assist functions such as blind-spot detection, lane-change assist, adaptive cruise control and rear-end collision warning.
Continental’s latest 4D imaging radar sensor is suitable for activating Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, as well as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features in modern cars.
In 2019, the company also introduced single-channel ABS modules for entry-level motorcycles in the 125cc to 200cc segments in India
Gupta suggested that the firm is evaluating new and existing vehicle architectures, including ICE and EV models, to determine the best fit for its safety solutions. Positive discussions are said to be ongoing with two major two-wheeler OEMs in India, but no specific timeline for the technology’s launch in India has been disclosed
He added, “The discussions are ongoing. Regarding when we would want to launch the product, this depends on when we have our first customer. We are hopeful that we can conclude the discussions by the end of the year. But the idea is to make it very quick.”