Maruti Suzuki invites applications from startups under its 6th cohort of MAIL initiative

Hyderabad: Automotive manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has announced on Friday that it has invited applications from startups under the sixth cohort of its Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) programme. Early-stage startups working in mobility and automobile space are eligible to participate.

Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) is an initiative that gives startups an opportunity to collaborate with Maruti Suzuki and co-create innovative solutions in mobility and automobile space. The programme is aligned with Startup India – an initiative by the Government of India, MSIL said.

The winning startups will get an opportunity to undertake a paid Proof of Concept (PoC) with the company. These selected startups will be closely mentored by industry experts in the domestic and international startup ecosystem. The participating startups will be provided with an opportunity to turn their innovative ideas into practical and disruptive solutions, and showcase their entrepreneurial capabilities. Maruti Suzuki has enabled 13 PoCs (Proof of Concepts) and engaged with 25 startups since January 2019, the company said in a statement.

Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, "As a key stakeholder, we are committed to nurture and promote a culture of innovation in this dynamic industry. In the last two years, we have had an encouraging experience through the MAIL initiative. Already 25 startups are engaged with us and 13 Proof of Concepts have been enabled. Several of these are successfully bringing value to the business of the automobile industry. The sixth cohort will help to expand the initiative further and strengthen the culture of innovation, as we co-create solutions for our customers, business and the industry."