Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched its fourth Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at Master Atul Government ITI in Sonipat, Haryana. This is the company’s second vocational training centre in Haryana after Uncha Majra. With an investment of ₹10 crore, the facility will train over 100 students annually in four trades – Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Machinist, Welder, and Fitter. The first batch of classes will start in September 2025.
The Sonipat institute is part of Maruti Suzuki’s efforts to support the government’s Skill India Mission. Haryana Minister of State Gaurav Gautam praised the initiative, calling it a big step towards creating a skilled workforce and boosting the state’s economic growth. Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, said the company aims to prepare students for better job opportunities in the automobile sector.
JIM Sonipat is affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training and accredited by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The training combines theory with hands-on practical experience. Students will learn about safety, quality standards, kaizen principles, discipline, and other Japanese manufacturing practices followed in the automotive industry.
Under the agreement for the new JIM, the Haryana government provided land and building infrastructure. Maruti Suzuki contributed by upgrading civil structures, installing modern equipment, setting up assembly lines, and designing training modules.
The Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing program was established in 2016 as a collaboration between the governments of Japan and India. Its goal is to train 30,000 young Indians over ten years. So far, the existing JIMs in Mehsana, Gandhinagar, and Uncha Majra have trained more than 2,100 students.
Maruti Suzuki’s skill development programs go beyond JIMs. The company supports 23 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India with specialized labs and high-voltage training equipment for hybrid and electric vehicles. It has also set up 31 Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres and runs apprenticeship programs for ITI graduates.
Through the fiscal year 2024-25, Maruti Suzuki’s corporate social responsibility spending on skill development has crossed ₹450 crore, showing its strong commitment to building a skilled workforce for India’s growing automotive industry.
