Maruti Suzuki Expands Its Commitment to Skilling with New Manufacturing Institute in Sonipat!
By Ashutosh Arora
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has taken a significant step toward strengthening India’s vocational training ecosystem by inaugurating its fourth Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) in Sonipat, Haryana. Set up at the Master Atul Government ITI, this newly launched institute is designed to equip the next generation of youth with world-class manufacturing skills rooted in Japanese best practices. The first batch of over 100 students will begin training in September 2025 across four specialized trades—Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Machinist, Welder, and Fitter.
The Sonipat JIM represents a ₹10 crore investment by Maruti Suzuki and marks the company’s second such institute in Haryana, following the earlier facility at Uncha Majra. The other two JIMs are located in Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, making this the fourth facility under the program. The institute is affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), a certification that reflects the high standards of instruction and curriculum offered.
Training at the Sonipat JIM will combine classroom teaching with rigorous on-the-job experience. The focus will be on core Japanese manufacturing principles such as quality control, workplace safety, discipline, and kaizen (continuous improvement). These values are crucial to India’s fast-evolving automotive industry and are expected to help bridge the gap between industry needs and workforce readiness.
Haryana’s Minister of State, Gaurav Gautam, lauded the initiative, calling it a powerful boost to the central government’s Skill India campaign and a key contributor to regional economic development. He emphasized that such public-private partnerships pave the way for a more employable and future-ready youth population.
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer – Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce. He highlighted that initiatives like the JIM are crucial for building sustainable talent pipelines in the manufacturing sector. Maruti Suzuki oversaw civil construction, equipment installation, training line setup, and curriculum development, while the Haryana government facilitated land and building provisions for the institute.
The JIM initiative traces back to a bilateral agreement signed between India and Japan in 2016, which aimed to train 30,000 Indian youth in manufacturing over a 10-year span. So far, over 2,100 students have graduated from the existing JIMs, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers in India’s growing auto sector.
Maruti Suzuki’s efforts in skill development go well beyond the JIM network. The company supports 23 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) nationwide and has established modern labs and training centers to enhance curriculum delivery. It has equipped 130 ITIs with high-voltage tools for hybrid and electric vehicle training and launched 31 Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres (ASECs) across India. These ASECs focus on vehicle servicing, repairs, and diagnostics. Maruti Suzuki also runs structured apprenticeship programs for ITI graduates. As of FY 2024–25, its cumulative investment in vocational training has crossed ₹450 crore—a testament to its long-standing vision for inclusive, skill-driven industrial growth.
With the launch of its Sonipat JIM, Maruti Suzuki continues to play a vital role in transforming India’s manufacturing landscape—by not just producing vehicles but also empowering the people who build them.
