Rohtak, Aug 21 - Passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has been allotted 700 acres here by the Haryana government for its proposed research and development (R&D) facility.

A land allotment agreement was signed by Maruti Suzuki managing director and chief executive Shinzo Nakanishi and Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corp managing director Rajeev Arora here Friday.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present at the ceremony.

Maruti will invest Rs.1,000 crore in two phases over six years, the company said in a statement.

While the development of the allotted land and construction of the test tracks will be completed during the first phase by 2012, the R&D facilities will be progressively completed by 2015.

The upcoming facility, the sole such centre being set up by Suzuki Motor Corp outside Japan, will introduce 'world-class R&D facilities in India', the company said.

Maruti's vendors will bring in further investment, it added.

'Six years ago, Osamu Suzuki, chairman, Suzuki Motor, Japan, had promised the people of India that he will make Maruti Suzuki the R&D hub for Asia, outside Japan. Today, we have taken a step further in realising this promise,' said Nakanishi.

'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.