Today, we have taken a step further in realising this promise,' said Nakanishi in a statement.

'This facility in Rohtak would be a big step forward in building the R&D capability of Maruti Suzuki, and enable us to offer superior products to our customers in the future as well.'

The facility, which will conform to international norms, will house a R&D centre for passenger cars including a state-of-the-art test track with a proving ground, wind tunnel and crash facility.

The Rohtak complex is also the latest in a series of big-ticket investments by Maruti Suzuki, which has turned Haryana as a global manufacturing hub.

Incidentally, Suzuki has decided to make India its global manufacturing base for its A-Star model.

The company also has a manufacturing facility in Manesar, a three lakh-unit annual capacity diesel engine plant, and a new-generation auto engine plant.

Maruti Suzuki is also on course to design a car on its own and launch a made-in-India car by 2012.