The Haryana government has agreed to allot 700 acres in Rohtak to Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) for setting up a research and development facility, test course and accommodation for its ancillaries.
Officials in the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation told FE on Tuesday, ??This facility is being seen as the R&D hub for the entire Asian region and would be the largest facility of Suzuki Motor Corporation outside Japan. This initiative of Maruti Suzuki is likely to make Haryana the base for product engineering and development for group activities, besides catalysing investment of about Rs 1,000 crore in the region.??
HSIIDC officials said of the total 700 acres, about 600 acres would be utilised for setting up of the R&D facility and the test course, while the remaining 100 acres would be leased out by MSIL to its vendors and ancillaries. The objective of the R&D facility would be to provide capability of full vehicle development as well as component durability testing and performance evaluation. This facility has been envisaged keeping in view the growing demand in the passenger car market segment and the need to introduce new models and incorporate changes in current models.
Presently, MSIL is able to handle only a few design development activities, as the research and development facilities in place at Gurgaon are limited. With the new facility in Rohtak, MSIL would be fully equipped to design and develop vehicles to suit specific needs of customers.