Maruti Partners Startups for AI, Battery Recycling Solutions
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) announced that it has collaborated with five startups to create solutions focused on enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience, in addition to recycling batteries from electric vehicles that have reached the end of their life.
The five startups chosen for the fifth cohort of the Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program (MSIP) are MiniMines, Easework AI, Sarvam AI, Siftly, and CodeMate AI.
The incubation program is operated in collaboration with the startup support center of IIM Bangalore, NSRCEL (Nadathur S Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning).
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MiniMines aims to create eco-friendly methods for recycling expired lithium-ion batteries and extracting precious materials from them, according to MSIL.
Easework AI will streamline procurement processes for indirect consumables, including non-production items like office supplies, maintenance tools, and safety gear, employing agentic AI, which denotes AI systems that can perform tasks with minimal human oversight.
Sarvam AI will implement generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a technology that produces text, images, or other content, with support for multiple languages to enhance customer engagement across various touchpoints. Siftly will leverage GenAI to boost brand presence, whereas CodeMate AI will accelerate the software application development utilized in Maruti Suzuki's operational processes.
"At Maruti Suzuki, we have been actively working with startups to co-create innovative and practical solutions to address real business challenges. We are delighted to collaborate with five more startups".
"One of these startups, MiniMines, will support us in safely recycling end-of-life batteries, while the other four startups will help improve customer engagement and drive efficiency across our business operations," says Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India.
Maruti Suzuki stated it has developed several innovation initiatives to aid startups focused on mobility and manufacturing technologies. In the last seven years, it has evaluated approximately 7,400 startups, connected with over 250, and included 38 as partners.
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In addition to the incubation programme established in 2020, the company operates the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator for growth-stage startups, the Mobility Challenge for established startups, Nurture, a pre-incubation program for idea-stage projects, and FundRays, an investment-readiness programme initiated in 2025 for startups that have completed its innovation initiatives.
Previously, Maruti Suzuki India launched an Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML) at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Hassangarh, Rohtak, as part of its continuous initiative to enhance industry-linked skill development under the Government of India’s Skill India mission. The program focuses on equipping students for changing demands in the automotive and advanced manufacturing industries through organized, practical training.
The laboratory has been created to replicate actual shop-floor conditions encountered in contemporary manufacturing settings. It offers hands-on experience in essential automotive manufacturing areas like assembly work, welding methods, painting procedures, machining activities, mechatronics technologies, and safety regulations in industry. Through the combination of hands-on learning and technical training, the center aims to enhance job readiness and connect academic programs with industry demands.
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In the initial year of operation, around 200 students at Government ITI Hassangarh are anticipated to receive training at the center. The initiative is a component of Maruti Suzuki's extensive CSR-driven skill development efforts, aimed at building a workforce prepared for the future of India's manufacturing sector. Sachin Gupta, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, attended the inauguration ceremony alongside prominent representatives from Maruti Suzuki and the ITI administration.