After three years of sustained growth, export demand for made-in-India passenger cars and sedans fell by 7% to 398,879 units and four of the eight OEMs registered sales declines. Of the 12 hatchbacks and 10 sedans shipped overseas in FY2025, the Hyundai Verna sedan has wrested the crown from the Maruti Baleno. The Top 10 export models comprise six sedans and four hatchbacks.
13 May 2025 | 405 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
In a scenario similar to the domestic market where demand slid 12% to 3.15 million units in FY2025, export sales of made-in-India passenger cars and sedans fell 7.2% to 398,879 units last fiscal (FY2024: 429,677 units). This decline comes after three straight fiscals of growth in FY2022 (374,986 units, up ...
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In a scenario similar to the domestic market where demand slid 12% to 3.15 million units in FY2025, export sales of made-in-India passenger cars and sedans fell 7.2% to 398,879 units last fiscal (FY2024: 429,677 units). This decline comes after three straight fiscals of growth in FY2022 (374,986 units, up 41%), FY2023 (413,787 units, up 10%) and FY2024 (429,677 units: up 4%). As the SIAM-sourced data table below depicts, four of eight exporting OEMs registered sales declines in FY2025.
Though the bellwether of the Indian passenger vehicle industry Maruti Suzuki maintained its No. 1 made-in-India car and utility vehicle exporter status for the fourth fiscal in a row, the company saw a marked decline of 16% YoY in FY2025 with car and sedan exports of 164,065 units (FY2024: 195,426 units). Maruti Suzuki’s passenger car portfolio consists of nine models – Alto, S-Presso, Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Wagon R and the sole sedan, the Ciaz.
In comparison, Hyundai Motor India, with 135,220 units shipped overseas, saw a marginal 1% drop with only one of its four export models – the i20 hatchback – posting a decline. The Verna and Aura sedans and the Grand i10 registered export-led growth.
At No. 3 is Nissan Motor India with 42,179 units and strong 25% YoY growth, thanks to sustained demand for the Sunny sedan. It’s the same with Volkswagen India which, with 34,640 Virtus sedans exported, achieved a 10% YoY increase.
HYUNDAI VERNA BEATS MARUTI BALENO TO TOP EXPORT CAR TITLE
The Hyundai Verna, whose sixth-generation model is manufactured in India, tops the export chart for FY2025 with 52,615 units even though sales are down 5% YoY (FY2024: 55,177 units). In the process, it has wrested the export crown from the Maruti Baleno which was the best-selling export car in FY2024. The Verna sold 15,593 units in India in FY2025, down 48% YoY (FY2024: 30,017 units).
The Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback, which was No. 4 in FY2024, has moved up two ranks in FY2025 with export sales of 44,760 units, up 15% YoY (FY2024: 39,021 units). The Grand i10’s domestic market sales last fiscal were 62,415 units, down 12% (FY2024: 70,764 units).
Export demand for the FY2024 topper, the Maruti Baleno hatchback was down 25% YoY with 43,135 units being shipped overseas in FY2025, 14,603 units lower than in FY2024. In India, the Baleno’s FY2025 sales of 167,161 units were down 15% (FY2024: 195,606 units).
The Nissan Sunny sedan, which is no longer sold in India, continues to be Nissan Motor India’s best-selling export model. In FY2025, the Sunny sold 42,179 units, a strong 25% increase over FY2024’s 33,659 units. This helps it maintain the same No. 4 ranking in the Top 10 car and sedan export listing.
The Maruti Swift hatchback continues to see good demand in its key export markets. In FY2025, the Swift clocked overseas sales of 35,952 units, up 8% YoY and moves up one rank from its sixth position in FY2024. However, in the domestic market, the Swift’s sales of 179,641 units were down 8% YoY (FY2024: 195,321 units).
The Hyundai Aura sedan, with 32,253 units, saw 7% YoY growth and moved up two ranks to No. 6 positions from No. 8 in FY2024. In India, the Aura sold 54,945 units, flat sales vs FY2024’s 55,215 units.
Volkswagen India maintains its position as India’s fourth highest car exporter with shipments of 34,640 units of the Virtus sedan, up 10% YoY (FY2024: 31,478 units). The Virtus is ranked No. 7 in the Top 10 export list, the same as it was a year ago. In India, the Virtus saw sales of 21,432 units, up 2% (FY2024: 21,094 units).
In eighth place is the Maruti Dzire sedan with 30,729 units, down 25% YoY (FY2024: 40,560 units), followed by sibling, Maruti S-Presso with 24,978 units down 12% YoY. The Dzire’s India sales lat fiscal were 165,021 units, which made for flat sales (FY2024: 164,517 units).
The Honda City wraps up the Top 10 export model listing. At 14,099 units, export demand for the City took a strong hit of 46% (FY2024: 26,206 units). The City’s domestic market sales in FY2025 were 10,901 units, down 36% YoY (FY2024: 16,925 units).
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