Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has emerged as a powerhouse for the Suzuki Motor Group, now contributing almost two-thirds of the Japanese auto giant's global vehicle production. This significant shift is largely due to increasing exports of 'Made-in-India' cars to Suzuki's home market, Japan, transforming the country into a key manufacturing hub.
India's Growing Export Hub for Suzuki
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, confirmed the company's pivotal role, stating in an August interview, “Globally, almost two-thirds of Suzuki Group’s production is from India.” This impressive output has had a direct impact on Suzuki's import standing in Japan.
As a direct result of these robust exports, Suzuki became Japan’s largest car importer in fiscal year 2026, surpassing even luxury marques like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. “Because we are sending cars to Japan, Suzuki became the biggest importer of cars into Japan,” Takeuchi added.
Key Models Leading the Charge
Maruti Suzuki's export portfolio to Japan includes several popular models. The compact SUV Fronx began its journey to Japan in August 2024, followed by the rugged Jimny 5-door in December 2024. Significantly, Maruti Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e-Vitara, joined the export lineup in September 2025, further solidifying India’s role as a global manufacturing base. Both the Jimny 5-door and the e-Vitara are manufactured exclusively in India.
Cumulative exports of these Made-in-India vehicles—the Jimny 5-door, Fronx, and e-Vitara—to Japan have already surpassed the 100,000-unit mark. This achievement underscores the advanced capabilities of India's automotive manufacturing sector.
Exporting to Japan, one of the world's most competitive and advanced automobile markets, is a testament to the quality and acceptance of Indian-made vehicles. Takeuchi highlighted this, noting, “The export milestone also symbolises the remarkable evolution of the India-Japan partnership. What began as Suzuki’s vision to manufacture automobiles in India has come full circle, with Made-in-India vehicles finding strong acceptance among Japanese customers.”
Beyond its contributions to Suzuki's global footprint, Maruti Suzuki also played a dominant role in India's overall passenger vehicle exports, accounting for over 55% of the country's total in the first quarter of FY27.