Maruti Suzuki Selects 6 Startups for 10th Accelerator Cohort
Indian engineers collaborating on an autonomous mobile robot in a factory.
Key Highlights
Maruti Suzuki chooses six Indian startups for its 10th Accelerator Programme, focusing on AI solutions for plant operations, product development, and customer experience.
Maruti Suzuki Accelerates Innovation with Tenth Startup Cohort
Automaker Maruti Suzuki has announced the selection of six promising Indian startups for the tenth cohort of its prestigious Accelerator Programme. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and technology-led solutions to enhance its operational efficiency, streamline product development, and improve customer engagement. The selected startups will collaborate with Maruti Suzuki to develop and implement proof-of-concept projects tailored to address specific challenges within the automotive giant’s extensive operations.
Driving Efficiency and Safety Through Startup Collaboration
The startups chosen for this cohort are GenbaNEXT, Goat Robotics, Schijnenn Digital, SheerDrive, Swayatt Drishtigochar, and Swiftex. These new-age technology companies are set to work alongside Maruti Suzuki to co-create solutions aimed at significantly improving safety and efficiency in plant operations. Key objectives include reducing product development timelines, strengthening material-level traceability to support circular economy efforts, and enhancing the overall customer experience. This strategic collaboration is expected to yield significant advancements in how Maruti Suzuki manages its manufacturing processes and interacts with its customer base.
CEO’s Vision for Technological Advancement
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, expressed his enthusiasm for the program’s potential impact. He stated, “As our operations continue to grow, the solutions that we are co-creating with these startups will enable us to further improve safety in our plants, help reduce product design and development lead time, strengthen material traceability to support our circularity efforts, and help our dealer sales executives engage with customers more efficiently.” Takeuchi’s remarks highlight the multifaceted benefits expected from this cohort, spanning operational improvements, sustainability initiatives, and sales effectiveness.
An Overview of the Selected Startups
The Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Programme, launched in 2019, provides selected startups with crucial mentorship, access to potential funding through the Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund, and valuable networking opportunities. This tenth cohort features a diverse range of innovative companies. GenbaNEXT, founded in 2021, offers a SaaS platform called RefNEXT for digitally managing refrigerant gas operations and a marketplace for HVAC services. Goat Robotics, established in 2023, develops autonomous mobile robots to boost efficiency and safety in manufacturing and warehouses. Schijnenn Digital, also founded in 2025, is a deeptech startup providing AI-powered automation and immersive AR/VR solutions through its RealEdg3D platform.
Innovations in Pre-Owned Vehicles and Industrial Monitoring
SheerDrive, founded in 2020, operates an AI-powered online platform, VIAR, for the procurement and remarketing of pre-owned vehicles, catering to OEMs, banks, and NBFCs. Swayatt Drishtigochar, a 2023 startup, focuses on digitizing industrial machine parameters with data-led solutions to predict potential breakdowns and optimize efficiency, offering sensors, HMI, gateways, and a computerized maintenance management system. Finally, Swiftex, founded in 2023, provides an AI-powered sales assistance platform designed to enhance dealer efficiency by automating customer engagement through multiple channels like WhatsApp, voice, and email, using real-time behavioral intent scoring and intelligent lead routing.