Indian Cars Shine Abroad: Maruti Jimny Becomes a Hit in Japan

While India’s passenger car industry looks to the government for GST relief to boost domestic sales, Indian-made cars are making waves in global markets. In the first half of the fiscal year 2025-26 (April to September), nearly 4.5 lakh cars were exported, marking a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. These include electric vehicles, hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs.

Maruti Jimny Gains Popularity in Japan
Maruti Suzuki, India’s market leader, is also leading the export front. The company aims to export over 4 lakh cars this year. Models like the Renault, Jimny, Swift, Baleno, and Dzire are seeing strong demand overseas, with over 2 lakh units exported in just the first half of this year.

Rahul Bharti, Maruti’s senior executive officer for corporate affairs, said, “We now ship as many cars in just one quarter as we used to export in a year four years ago. This is a true tribute to the Make in India, Make for the World vision.” He added that the India-made Jimny is now sold in developed markets like Japan, and Maruti has also started exporting its first electric car, the eVitara, which will launch in India later. In August and September alone, the company shipped over 6,000 electric cars.

Hyundai Taps Into India’s Export Potential
Hyundai Motor India, an early supporter of India as a global export hub, reported a 17% growth in exports this year. Between April and September, Hyundai shipped nearly 1 lakh units, up from 84,900 units in the same period last year.

Hyundai’s Global CEO, José Muñoz, praised India-made cars for their quality and cost-efficiency, stating, “We will make India a global export hub for both electric vehicles and petrol-diesel cars (ICE).” Hyundai exports models like Creta, Grand i10, Verna, and i20 to Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, reaching over 150 countries. He added, “By 2030, India will be our second-largest market globally, aligning with PM Modi’s Make in India vision.”

Nissan Finds Success in the Middle East
Nissan is also expanding its export footprint rapidly. Its Sunny sedan sells well in the Middle East, and the Magnite SUV is available in 65 countries. Nissan India MD Saurabh Vatsa said, “India is now Nissan’s second-largest export hub. Excellent engineering talent, efficient manufacturing systems, high-quality suppliers, and easy port access are driving this growth.”

With Maruti, Hyundai, and Nissan leading the way, Indian cars are not only conquering domestic roads but also making a strong mark on the global stage.