Maruti Suzuki aims to complete the second phase of its research and development centre in northern Haryana state by March 2019 at an estimated investment of 19 billion rupees ($280m).
The Nikkei news agency reports that the investment spread over 600 acres in Haryana’s Rohtak region, 70km away from the capital New Delhi, will be one of the most advanced R&D plants in India.
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For its R&D centre, the company was looking for flat land for good quality test tracks which it found in Rohtak. C.V. Raman, Maruti Suzuki’s executive director of engineering said: “We wanted 2km of straight track.”
The R&D facility employs around 220 engineers and has well-equipped vehicle testing and evaluation labs, as well as a proving ground with 31 test tracks based on Suzuki Global test standards.
Nikkei reported that the test tracks include a circuit for high-speed and acceleration tests; vehicle ride and handling tracks with skid pads and bends for steering and suspension evaluation; and endurance tracks to test the durability of cars. It also has special test facilities to simulate Indian driving conditions such as muddy roads and pot holes.
“We learned testing from Suzuki Global, and the Rohtak facility is very important for product development,” Raman said.
