Maruti Suzuki, DPIIT sign MoU to boost auto, mobility innovation through startups

Homegrown automaker Maruti Suzuki India and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support startups in automobile manufacturing and mobility solutions. This collaboration aims to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by fostering technology-driven innovation.Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Through this partnership with DPIIT, we will be able to further accelerate our efforts to support promising startups to create technology-led solutions in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space.”

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of key figures, including Sanjiv, Joint Secretary of DPIIT, and Maruti Suzuki representatives: Independent Director Anjali Bansal, Director of Corporate Planning Sunil Kakkar, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti, and Executive Officer of Digital Enterprise Tapan Sahoo.

Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, said, “This MoU is a step towards creating a robust platform for startups to transform ideas into market-ready mobility and manufacturing solutions, reinforcing India’s leadership in next-gen industrial innovation.”Startups recognised under DPIIT’s ‘Startup India’ initiative can join Maruti Suzuki’s innovation programs. Selected startups will receive expert mentorship, industry insights, and access to Maruti Suzuki’s network and infrastructure for testing and validating their solutions. They will also connect with incubators, accelerators, and investors to showcase their innovations.

Alam Ansari, Deputy Director, Startup India, DPIIT, said, “Our partnership with Maruti Suzuki reflects DPIIT’s commitment to nurturing high-impact startup engagement in the mobility and manufacturing space. We look forward to enabling startups with the support they need to succeed at scale, both in India and globally.”

Over the last six years, Maruti Suzuki has screened more than 5,220 startups, engaged with around 150 of them, and onboarded 28 as partners delivering value to its business.