Maruti Suzuki India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Directorate of Employment and Training, Government of Gujarat, to set up Advanced Manufacturing Labs at Industrial Training Institutes in Palanpur, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Godhra, and Dahod.
The initiative, developed under Maruti Suzuki’s CSR programme and aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India mission, aims to build a future-ready workforce by replicating a real-world shop-floor environment and providing hands-on training in assembly, welding, painting, machining, mechatronics, and safety.
Mr. Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Maruti Suzuki aligns with the Government of India’s flagship Skill India mission to impart the relevant skill training to create livelihood opportunities for the youth. Through Advanced Manufacturing Labs, we are equipping students with experiential learning and confidence in modern equipment, nurturing professionals who can seamlessly integrate into the evolving automotive ecosystem. We have a robust plan to expand manufacturing operations in the State. Each expansion brings with it a new industrial ecosystem, one that demands a skilled and future-ready workforce. The Advanced Manufacturing Labs will play a pivotal role in meeting this latent need and ensuring that talent is ready to meet the industry demands.”
Mr. Stuti Charan, IAS, Director, DET, Government of Gujarat, said, “Maruti Suzuki, while being the market leader, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to skill development in India. By setting up Advanced Manufacturing Labs in Gujarat’s ITIs, Maruti Suzuki is bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements. This initiative will empower our youth and strengthen Gujarat’s position as a hub for the automotive sector.”
The timing of the initiative aligns with Maruti Suzuki’s significant manufacturing expansion in Gujarat. The company is set to commence operations of its fourth production line at the Hansalpur facility this year, taking total annual capacity there to one million units from the current 750,000 units. An additional new plant with a capacity of one million units is also being set up at Sanand, which will take the company’s combined annual production capacity in Gujarat to two million units.
With the addition of the five Gujarat labs, Maruti Suzuki will operate 23 Advanced Manufacturing Labs across seven states and union territories, including Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Chandigarh. The company currently supports 31 ITIs across India in manufacturing-related trades. It also operates four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing in Gujarat and Haryana, established as a collaborative initiative between the Governments of India and Japan to build a deeper pool of skilled automotive talent.
