New Delhi: As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi began her visit to India, she announced to introduce Maruti Suzuki India’s new manufacturing plant
in Kharkhoda, Haryana. More than just the opening of a new factory, the event reflects the growing partnership between India and Japan and their shared vision of making India a global manufacturing automobile hub.
The announcement was made during the Japan-India forum where more than 150 companies are taking part. The two countries are set to deepen relations with each other in terms of cooperation across manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy and mobility.
Before the summit, Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary Masanao Ozaki posted on social media platform X that he hopes to bring about positive and practical improvements in the economic ties between India and Japan. According to Japanese daily The Yomiuri Shimbun, Ozaki said around 120 cooperation initiatives worth nearly 2 trillion yen (about $12.5 billion) are expected to be announced during the visit, highlighting India’s growing importance as a destination for Japanese investment.
Maruti Suzuki expands its manufacturing network
The Kharkhoda plant is the fourth manufacturing plant of Maruti in India, after its other plants in Gurugram, Manesar and Gujrat.
At present, two manufacturing units at the facility are operational with a combined installed production capacity of 5 lakh vehicles annually. The company plans to expand the facility’s production capacity to 10 lakh vehicles a year in phases.
It is expected to be built over nearly 800 acres, with the facility set to have an integrated supplier park that will support manufacturers and help improve efficiency in production and operations. Maruti Suzuki has planned on investing Rs 35,000 crore for India.
Once fully developed, the Kharkhoda manufacturing complex is set to create around 21,000 jobs. It will also generate many more employment opportunities through supporting industries, logistics companies, and auto component manufacturers.
A step towards a new future
The Kharkhoda plant is a step towards a new future in the automobile sector of India in the upcoming future. The Kharkhoda facility has been built using Suzuki Motor Corporation’s “Suzuki Smart Factory” concept and it uses advanced Industry 5.0 technologies to make manufacturing smarter and more efficient in the future.
The plant will use AI-powered human-aware collaborative robots, or cobots, to improve manufacturing precision, productivity and workplace safety. Sustainability is an important part of the project. The facility will run entirely on renewable electricity, recycle all of its water, and operate without releasing any wastewater into the environment.
Maruti Suzuki India also plans to set up a biogas plant in the 2026-27 financial year and build its own solar power plant with a capacity of up to 70 MW as production increases.
According to the company, the Kharkhoda project is a key step in its ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ strategy and an important milestone in expanding its manufacturing capabilities in the country. Maruti Suzuki remains India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, accounting for nearly half of all passenger vehicle sales in the country.
The expansion of Maruti Suzuki India’s manufacturing operations comes at a time when India is emerging as a major global hub for automobile production. At the same time, Japanese companies are continuing to increase their investments in different sectors across the country.
The inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not just about the opening of a new factory but it also reflects the growing friendship and economic partnership between the two countries.
Curated by: Eshna Dhawan
