How a garage project in Old Delhi became India's automotive giant

Sport & Games · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: What began as a small-scale operation in a rented garage near Roshanara Bagh evolved into a global manufacturing powerhouse. From failed prototypes using motorcycle engines to a multi-billion dollar market leader, the story of Maruti Suzuki is a saga of political shifts, industrial ambition, and massive scale.

The origins of Maruti Suzuki are deeply tied to the personal ambitions of Sanjay Gandhi, who apprenticed at Rolls-Royce in the UK. In the early 1970s, he established Maruti Motors Limited, aiming to produce an affordable 'people's car.' His initial 1972 prototype, which utilized a Triumph motorcycle engine, was actually deemed unsuitable for road use by researchers in Ahmednagar. Despite these early setbacks and the project's instability following the 1977 election, the venture was eventually revitalized through a joint venture with Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation, which began negotiations with the Indian government in April 1982.

The partnership between the Indian government and Suzuki underwent significant structural changes over decades. While Suzuki initially held only a 26% stake in 1982, the company gradually increased its ownership to 50% in 1992 and reached 56.21% by 2013. This transition mirrored India's broader economic shifts, including the 1991 liberalization and the 2003 decision to make Maruti a public company. The company's growth was not without friction; the 2000s saw major industrial relations conflicts, including indefinite strikes by employees demanding better wages and pensions.

Today, Maruti Suzuki is the largest automobile manufacturer in India, commanding a 42% market share in the passenger car segment as of September 2022. The company's manufacturing footprint is massive, with facilities in Gurugram, Manesar, and Gujarat. Looking forward, the company is investing ₹18,000 crores into a new, massive plant in Kharkhoda, Haryana. This facility, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for in August 2022, is intended to be one of the world's largest, with the potential to eventually bring the company's total annual production capacity to 4.35 million units by 2028-29.

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