Maruti Suzuki expands 'Accelerator' programme to include global startups

Stand-up India: In tune with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ initiatives, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has announced the opening of applications for the 9th Cohort of its Maruti Suzuki Accelerator program. For the first time, the company is inviting applications from global startups. Indian and international startups with innovative solutions in automobile manufacturing and mobility are encouraged to apply and benefit from the program.

Programme benefits 

Participants will receive guidance from mentors within the domestic and international startup ecosystems, as well as domain experts from Maruti Suzuki.  Startups will also have the chance to conduct a “Paid Proof of Concept” with Maruti Suzuki. Additionally, the program offers educational visits to Japan and opportunities to develop global market connections. Startups can secure funding through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, stated, “The startup ecosystem is brimming with ideas and solutions pertinent to automobile manufacturing and mobility. In 2019, we initiated a program aimed at creating an enabling ecosystem for technology-driven innovations,” 

“By now opening the program to global startups, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative technologies relevant to the Indian market. This expansion will help drive technological advancements and create employment opportunities for the youth, thereby contributing to the nation’s economic growth,” Tekuchi added. 

Accelerator programme 

Launched in 2019 as the Mobility and Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL), Maruti Suzuki's corporate accelerator program promotes innovation within the automobile manufacturing and mobility sectors. The program collaborates with startups to co-create technology-driven solutions that enhance customer convenience and business process efficiency, among other benefits.

Startups in the program gain unique opportunities, including potential investment support through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund. Since its inception, Maruti Suzuki has screened over 2,000 startups across eight cohorts and engaged with 56 of them. Eighteen of these startups have been onboarded as business partners, generating over Rs 1 billion in combined business.

Recognising the evolving ecosystem, Maruti Suzuki has rebranded its program. Starting with Cohort 9, the former Mobility and Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) will now be known as the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator.