Japan PM's visit brings big investment push with Maruti's 4th car plant in Haryana

The Kharkhoda plant is Maruti Suzuki's fourth manufacturing facility in India and is expected to significantly boost the country's passenger vehicle production capacity.

In Short

• Fourth Maruti facility in India with Rs 35,000 crore investment
• Plant to add 10 lakh vehicle capacity and 21,000 direct jobs
• Boosts Make in India and India-Japan economic partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are set to jointly inaugurate Maruti Suzuki India's new manufacturing facility at Kharkhoda in Haryana on Wednesday, marking one of the biggest investments in India's automobile sector in recent years, marking another milestone in the India-Japan economic partnership.

The inauguration comes alongside the India-Japan Economic Forum, where over 150 Japanese companies are participating as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation across manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy and mobility.

Ahead of the summit, Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, in a post on X, said he hoped the visit would lead to "concrete and remarkable development in Japan-India economic relations".

Citing 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'S FOURTH MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN INDIA

The Kharkhoda facility is Maruti Suzuki's fourth manufacturing facility in India after Gurugram, Manesar and Gujarat.

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.

Spread across nearly 800 acres, the facility includes an integrated supplier park aimed at strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem and improving operational efficiency.

Maruti Suzuki has earmarked a total investment of Rs 35,000 crore for India.

The fully developed Kharkhoda manufacturing complex, which is expected to create more than 21,000 direct jobs, besides generating significant employment through ancillary industries, logistics providers and component manufacturers.

A FACTORY BUILT FOR THE FUTURE

The Kharkhoda facility has been designed around the company's 'Suzuki Smart Factory' concept and incorporates Industry 5.0-enabled manufacturing technologies.

The plant will use AI-powered human-aware collaborative robots, or cobots, to improve manufacturing precision, productivity and workplace safety.

Sustainability has also been built into the project. The facility will operate using 100% renewable electricity, feature 100% water recycling and function as a Zero Liquid Discharge manufacturing unit.

Maruti Suzuki also plans to commission a biogas plant during FY2026-27, develop an in-house solar power plant with a capacity of up to 70 MW as production expands, and build an in-plant railway siding to support greener logistics.

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 its manufacturing footprint comes as India positions itself as a global automobile manufacturing hub while Japanese companies continue to increase investments across multiple sectors.

The inauguration by Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Takaichi not only marks the opening of another manufacturing facility but also underscores the growing strategic and economic partnership between India and Japan, with manufacturing continuing to remain at the heart of bilateral cooperation.

- Ends