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 India chairman R.C. Bhargav said there were 730 engineers working in the Manesar unit. 'This will go up to 1,000 by 2010,' he said.

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

Asked about the launch of Suzuki's big car Kizashi in Indian market, Nakanishi said the car 'might be launched in two-three years depending on the market condition'.