To support Maruti Suzuki India Ltd's goal of reaching annual sales of 2 million units a year, its parent company Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for its new vehicle manufacturing plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat.

The Suzuki group will set up three plants at Hansalpur with a total annual capacity of 7.5 lakh vehicles, which will be supplied to Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

The first plant, for which the foundation stone was laid, is scheduled to start production in May 2017.

Osamu Suzuki, Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation, said, "The setting up of this plant marks the beginning of a new era and in many ways this can be considered SMC's second project here."

With an initial annual capacity of 1.5 lakh units, it will be increased to 2.5 lakh vehicles, Suzuki added.

The plant is being set up at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore and is expected to manufacture a small light commercial vehicle.