Maruti Suzuki launches Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab; seeks startup ideas on automation

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched a unique platform to identify and bring together startups with innovative solutions in automobile and mobility space. The Indo-Japan car maker has launched a program - Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) to promote innovation in India for automobile and mobility space.

Maruti Suzuki says that this an initiative to identify innovative and cutting-edge solutions through start-ups, which are futuristic and customer oriented. According to the company, the program will provide a platform to the budding talent in India to showcase their entrepreneurial capabilities at a national level. Startups with innovations in these fields would be offered an opportunity by Maruti Suzuki to turn their ideas into reality.

The Indian Automobile industry is currently undergoing a transformation and requires unique solutions in the mobility and automobile space. Recent times have seen a boom in the startup culture in India – a culture popular for its fast-paced execution, agile organization and out-of-the-box approach towards problem-solving.

Explaining about the program, Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “The Indian Automobile industry is constantly evolving. The need of the hour is to have a relentless approach towards promoting a culture of innovation. This initiative will help Maruti Suzuki leverage the innovation capability of startups to provide unique solutions in the mobility and automobile space. Through MAIL, Maruti Suzuki offers a platform for startups to showcase their capabilities and come up with next-generation ideas in the areas of Connected cars / Shared mobility / Autonomous cars / Electric vehicle and its Infrastructure etc. Select a few startups would get an opportunity to do a Proof of Concept (Pilot) with Maruti Suzuki.”

For this initiative, Maruti Suzuki has partnered with GHV Accelerator (www.ghvaccelerator.com), an Indo-Japanese early-stage seed fund with proprietary accelerator program and industry co-creation program.

With the launch of this initiative, interested startups across India can apply for the program, by visiting the MAIL website (www.marutisuzukimail.com) and follow the instructions to participate.