204,330 made-in-India cars and UVs exported in Q1 FY2026, Maruti Suzuki takes huge lead

The made-in-India automobile export story has had a strong opening quarter in FY2026, continuing the momentum it displayed in FY2025 (5.36 million units, up 19%). April-June 2025 saw total overseas shipments of 1.45 million vehicles across segments, up 22% YoY (Q1 FY2025: 1.19 million units). Importantly, every segment has benefited from the growth. While passenger vehicles clocked their highest ever exports of 204,330 units (up 13%), two-wheelers with 1.13 million units registered robust 23% growth, three-wheelers 34% growth with 94,796 units and commercial vehicles with 19,427 units were up 23% year on year.

According to apex industry body SIAM, the increase in passenger vehicle exports was driven by stable demand across most markets, with strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America. Revival in neighbouring markets like Sri Lanka and Nepal, rising demand from Japan, and growing exports under FTAs such as Australia also contributed to the overall growth.

With 97,999 units (up 26%), utility vehicles (UVs) contributed 48% to total passenger vehicle exports of 204,330 units while cars and sedans (103,768 units, up 2%) had a 51% share and vans (2,563 units, up 34%) a 1% share). Similar to the trend in the domestic market as well as overseas markets, the consumer shift to SUVs will soon translate into UVs overtaking made-in-India car and sedan exports. 

Maruti Suzuki India, which has been India’s No. 1 passenger vehicle exporter for the past four fiscals, has taken a strong lead in FY2026 with shipments of 96,181 units, up 37% YoY (Q1 FY2025: 69,962 units). The car, SUV and MPV manufacturer, which exported a record 330,081 vehicles in FY2025, has already achieved 29% of that in the first three months of the current fiscal. Maruti Suzuki is targeting 400,000 vehicle exports in FY2026, according to Rahul Bharti, execute director, Corporate Affairs.

The Q1 exports comprised 43,025 hatchbacks and sedans (up 19%), 50,668 UVs (up 59%) and 2,488 Eeco vans. The strong growth in UV exports can be attribute to demand emanating from Suzuki Motor Corp in Japan for the made-in-India Fronx and Jimny, the No. 1 and No. 2 exported SUVs in FY2025.

Hyundai Motor India, the longstanding No. 2 PV exporter, has shipped 48,140 vehicles in Q1 FY2026, up 13% YoY. This comprises 40,900 cars (up 17%) and 7,240 UVs (down 6%). While the sixth-gen Verna sedan remains the No. 1 export model with 15,764 units and a 33% share of total exports, the Aura sedan and Grand i10 and i20 hatchbacks together sold 25,136 units. The flagship Alcazar midsize SUV was the best-selling export model with 3,126 units, down 1% YoY. Export demand for the Venue-Exter was down by 42% to 2,191 units but the Creta’s exports rose 146% o a low year-ago base of 782 units to 1,923 units in April-June 2025.

Nissan Motor India, with 16,400 cars shipped overseas in Q1 FY2026, takes third rank and registers 28% YoY growth. This is the result of strong demand for the entry-level Magnite compact SUV which, with 10,693 units, posted 193% growth on the year-ago 3,643 units. The Sunny sedan, which is an export-model model, posted export sales of 5,707 units, down 38 percent.

Volkswagen India, which was ranked fifth in FY2025, is ranked fourth with exports of 15,110 vehicles, down 13% YoY. These comprise 11,077 Virtus sedans (down 6%), and 4,033 Taigun SUVs (down 26%)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, in similar manner, has moved up the OEM export ranks with 6,496 units, which marks a YoY increase of 34% with the model in demand being the Hyryder midsize SUV, which is also witnessing handsome growth in the domestic market.

Kia India is ranked sixth on the PV export scale with 6,012 units, down 22% YoY. Its best-selling export models for the first three months of the current fiscal are the Sonet, Carens and the Seltos. While combined exports of Sonet and Syros compact SUVs at 2,672 units are down 15% YoY, the Seltos with 1,577 units is down 11 percent and the Carens MPV (1,763 units) down 37% YoY.

Mahindra & Mahindra, which is having a stellar run in the domestic market, has exported 5,950 SUVs, up 159% YoY on a year-ago base of 2,296 units, driven by overseas demand for its flagship SUV, the XUV700 and the XUV 3XO (628 units).

Honda Cars India, which was the fourth-ranked PV exporter in FY2025, is ranked No. 8 in Q1 FY2026 with 4,052 units, down sharply by 78% YoY (Q1 FY205: 18,009 units) with exports sales down for all three models: Elevate, City, and Amaze. It is the huge drop in export demand for the Elevate midsize SUV which has dragged down Honda’s export numbers. At 2,678 units, Elevate exports are down 75% YoY (Q1 FY2025L 10,659 units) while the City (1,193 units) and Amaze (181 units) sedan are also down year on year.

Nissan Motor India is at No. 8 position with 2,170 Magnites exported, up 240% YoY on a low year-ago exports of 639 units.  

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