Maruti Suzuki India Limited has established a new Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) in Sonipat, Haryana, aimed at developing skilled talent for the automotive industry. The facility, located at the Master Atul Government Industrial Training Institute, is set to train over 100 students annually in four key trades—Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Machinist, Welder, and Fitter. The first academic session is expected to begin in September 2025.
This is Maruti Suzuki’s second JIM in Haryana and fourth in India, with others located in Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat and Uncha Majra in Haryana. Developed with an investment of INR 100 million, the Sonipat centre is part of the company’s broader initiative to provide industry-oriented vocational education.
The curriculum at the new JIM combines technical theory with practical training, reflecting a dual-learning model. In addition to the trade-specific training, students will also receive instruction in workplace practices such as quality standards, safety procedures, discipline, and kaizen—a method of continuous improvement used in manufacturing.
Maruti Suzuki and the Haryana government collaborated on the project, with the state providing the land and building, and the company managing infrastructure upgrades, equipment installation, training content, and overall operations.
The JIM program was introduced in 2016 as part of the Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme, a joint effort by the Indian and Japanese governments to develop a skilled industrial workforce. The program aims to train 30,000 individuals in manufacturing disciplines over ten years. Maruti Suzuki reports that over 2,100 students have completed training through its existing JIMs.
Commenting on the initiative, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, noted that the program complements national efforts in skill development and helps bridge the gap between education and industry demands.
Apart from running JIMs, Maruti Suzuki also supports 23 ITIs across India by setting up skill labs and offering specialized automotive training. The company has outfitted 130 ITIs with high-voltage systems to train students in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies and operates 31 Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres. It also offers apprenticeship programs for graduates of industrial training institutes.
By the end of FY2024–25, the company expects to have spent more than INR 4.5 billion on its skill development initiatives under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited is a leading manufacturer of passenger vehicles in India and actively engages in workforce development to address the evolving needs of the automotive sector.
