Maruti Suzuki India has come up with its 9th cohort of corporate accelerator programme titled the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator. The programme has been rebranded this year and is open to global participants including startups. The primary goal is to develop cutting-edge solutions for the automobile manufacturing and mobility market.
The programme was previously titled the Mobility and Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL). It offers selected startups the chance to conduct paid proof of concepts (PoCs) with the company. Successful startups might get funded as well as financial support. It is learned that the startups will receive mentorship from experienced professionals worldwide. They can even participate in educational visits to Japan.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said that the programme was initiated in 2019 with the aim to create an enabling ecosystem for startups based on technology-driven innovations. The program is now open to global startups.
The programme is designed to foster collaboration between Maruti Suzuki and the winning startups in the creation of technology-driven solutions. The innovations aim to improve customer convenience and streamline business processes. The company has screened more than 2,000 startups in past eight cohorts and partnered with 18 of them.
The automobile sector in India has grown significantly over the years and has contributed around 7.1% to the GDP. The sector has also provided employment to more than 19 million people. Some of the prominent startups are Ola, Ather Energy, BluSmart, Droom, Zoomcar, CarDekho and Euler Motors.
The accelerator programme reflects commitment of Maruti Suzuki to innovation and growth. Expansion of the programme in the latest edition means fostering innovation within India. It also means paving the path for international collaboration and technological advancements.
