Maruti Suzuki India

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, established in 1981 as a joint venture between the Government of India and Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, is the country’s largest manufacturer of passenger cars. Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, the company runs production facilities in Gurugram and Manesar and sells more than 1.5 million vehicles each year. It commands a leading share of the Indian passenger vehicle market.

The company’s corporate startup programme began in 2019 as the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Lab (MAIL) and was later renamed the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator. This initiative seeks out startups working on solutions for automotive manufacturing, sales, aftermarket services, and connected mobility. It functions as a structured accelerator with cohort-based intake and paid proof-of-concept engagements.

The accelerator accepts startups focused on AI, big data analytics, blockchain, connected cars, digital twins, AR/VR, autonomous mobility, and IoT. Participants receive mentorship from senior leadership, access to real manufacturing and dealership settings for pilots, and paid POC contracts. The programme also runs periodic innovation challenges tied to specific problem statements from business units, covering supply chain, customer experience, and factory automation. Alumni include Metadome, Rezo.ai, Vicara, Xane AI, AMLGO Labs, Ravity, Automaxis, and DaveAI, with Clean Slate exiting in March 2022. The programme has supported 56 startups and is suited to technology ventures at validation and early revenue stages seeking enterprise revenue through paid POCs.