India’s manufacturing ambitions are set to receive a major boost as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepare to inaugurate Maruti Suzuki India’s massive Kharkhoda manufacturing facility in Haryana. The project, backed by an investment of ₹35,000 crore, is among the largest investments in India’s automobile sector and is expected to strengthen the country’s position as a global manufacturing destination.
The inauguration will coincide with the India-Japan Economic Forum, where more than 150 Japanese companies are participating to explore fresh investment opportunities and expand cooperation in strategic sectors, including automobiles, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
One Of India’s Biggest Automobile Investments
The Kharkhoda facility marks Maruti Suzuki’s fourth manufacturing plant in India, joining its existing production units in Gurugram, Manesar and Gujarat.
The factory has already begun operations with an annual production capacity of five lakh vehicles, while the company plans to double this capacity to 10 lakh vehicles every year through phased expansion.
Spread across nearly 800 acres, the integrated manufacturing complex has been designed to support large-scale vehicle production while improving coordination between suppliers and manufacturers through a dedicated supplier park.
Over 21,000 Direct Jobs Expected
Beyond increasing vehicle production, the project is expected to create a significant economic impact by generating more than 21,000 direct employment opportunities.
Thousands of additional indirect jobs are also likely to be created in sectors such as automobile components, logistics, transportation and supporting industries, making the project one of the biggest employment-generating investments in Haryana’s industrial sector.
AI, Green Energy And Smart Manufacturing At The Core
The Kharkhoda facility has been developed using Suzuki Smart Factory technology and incorporates advanced Industry 5.0 manufacturing systems.
The plant will deploy AI-powered collaborative robots (cobots) to improve production quality, worker safety and manufacturing efficiency.
The project also focuses heavily on sustainability. According to the company, the plant will operate entirely on renewable electricity, recycle all its water and function as a Zero Liquid Discharge manufacturing unit.
Future expansion plans include a 70 MW solar power plant, a biogas facility and an in-house railway siding to reduce carbon emissions during transportation.
India-Japan Economic Partnership Gets Stronger
The inauguration comes as India and Japan deepen their economic partnership through increased investments and technology collaboration.
Ahead of the event, Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki expressed optimism that the visit would result in “concrete and remarkable development in Japan-India economic relations.”
Reports also suggest that nearly 120 cooperation initiatives worth around 2 trillion yen (approximately $12.5 billion) could be announced during the visit, signalling Japan’s continued confidence in India’s fast-growing economy.
A Big Step For ‘Make In India’
Maruti Suzuki said the Kharkhoda project is a key part of its “Make in India, Make for the World” strategy.
As India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, the company believes the new facility will help meet rising domestic demand while strengthening exports from India.
The launch of the mega plant is expected to become a landmark moment for India’s automobile industry, reinforcing the country’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub and highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan.
