IN A significant step toward strengthening industry–academia collaboration in India’s automotive sector, Garnet Motors (India) Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Strategic Academic–Industry Alliance Agreement with Swaminarayan University to jointly launch a four-year B.Tech programme in Automobile Engineering integrating academic education with structured industry immersion.

 

The agreement was formally signed on March 9, 2026, at the university campus in Kalol. Garnet Motors, a group company of the K S Cheema Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning automobile dealerships, mining, real estate development and construction, education, and securing digital infrastructure and operational technology against cyber-attacks, is a prominent player in India’s automotive dealership sector, representing globally renowned automobile brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Škoda, BYD, and Renault. Over the past decade, the group has expanded its presence across multiple cities and has built a strong reputation within the Indian automotive ecosystem. Established in 2022, Swaminarayan University is a University Grants Commission-recognised private university offering more than 170 programmes across disciplines including engineering, medicine, management, and law. The university emphasises a holistic education model that combines modern academic learning with spiritual and ethical values of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

 

The agreement was signed by K S Cheema, Chairman and Managing Director of the K S Cheema Group, and Ajit Gangawane, Registrar of Swaminarayan University, in the presence of Prof. Rupesh Vasani, Provost/Vice Chancellor, Dr Gunjan Shah, representatives from Garnet Motors, and Shastri Swami Bhaktavatsaldasji, who blessed the beginning of this partnership. At the signing ceremony K S Cheema said, “India’s education system produces talented graduates, but industry often finds them lacking real-world exposure. This partnership with Swaminarayan University is designed to bridge that gap.” The B.Tech in Automobile Engineering programme will begin with its first batch of 30 students in the academic year 2026–27.

 

The programme aims to bridge the long-standing gap between theoretical education and industry readiness by combining strong academic foundations with structured exposure to real-world automotive operations. Under this collaboration, students will gain industry exposure through practical training, internships, and experiential learning opportunities facilitated through the Garnet Motors ecosystem. These will include training opportunities at Mercedes-Benz Central Star dealerships in Ahmedabad and Surat and Škoda dealership networks in Mumbai, enabling students to experience modern automotive systems, dealership operations, and emerging technologies. The programme is designed to equip students with hands-on skills, exposure to advanced automotive technologies, and a deep understanding of industry practices, ensuring that graduates are well prepared for careers across the automobile ecosystem. Graduates from this programme are expected to be well positioned for career opportunities across the automotive industry in Gujarat, across India, and in international markets such as the Middle East. K S Cheema group is well positioned to establish such relationship with more education institutions, pan India, said K S Cheema. photo saved in W/emails/ Garnet Motors - March-12