[Wafer: response was truncated before the model finished its internal reasoning. Increase max_tokens, or disable thinking on this model (e.g. chat_template_kwargs.enable_thinking=false), then retry.]

Maruti Suzuki is integrating generative AI and software-driven engineering into its vehicle development process, targeting a 25 percent reduction in model development time as it prepares to launch nine new models over the next three years.

Managing director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the shift affects every stage of the business. "The rapid rise of software content in vehicles and the advances being made in Artificial Intelligence, particularly Generative AI, are fundamentally reshaping product development, manufacturing, quality management, safety improvement and customer experience," he said in the company's annual report for FY26.

Takeuchi said digital technologies are increasingly important for improving efficiency, enabling faster and better-informed decisions, and enhancing organisational agility as Maruti Suzuki grows.

Nine models, shorter development cycles

The company's product programme includes nine models over three years, with seven SUVs scheduled across a five-year window. Cutting development time from 48 months to 36 months is central to that schedule.

The faster pace requires closer coordination with parent Suzuki Motor Corporation. Chairman R C Bhargava said the partnership became closer and more integrated during FY26. "In particular, we are working closer than ever to strengthen our capacity for building new models of cars in shorter and more cost-effective ways," he said.

"Engineering strength is the core value that leads to success of a car company," Bhargava added.

Why this matters for product development professionals

For engineers and product managers in automotive and adjacent industries, the move signals that software and AI are now core to the development process, not optional extras. The 36-month target means teams must apply digital tools earlier in the cycle, and the emphasis on generative AI points to AI-assisted workflows in design, simulation and quality. Professionals who build skills in these areas will be better positioned as the industry compresses development timelines.