Global majors keen to make e-cars in India; Tesla quiet

Maruti eyes 50% share of car exports; Hyundai sees overseas demand rising

- PUJA DAS

At a time when demand in the Indian domestic passenger car market is flagging, leading automakers are witnessing a sharp uptick in exports.

With manufacturers now increasingly leaning on global markets to counter slowing sales at home, market leader Maruti Suzuki is aiming for a 50 per cent share of the country's total car exports.

Maruti Suzuki, which shipped 332,585 units overseas last financial year, is targeting a 20 per cent increase in 2025-26 to take its total exports beyond the 400,000-unit mark. Hyundai Motor India, which exported around 163,386 units in 2024-25, is eyeing a more modest 7-8 per cent growth in the year ahead.

Maruti and Hyundai Motor India continue to dominate the country's outbound car trade, accounting for 43 per cent and 21 per cent of the export market, respectively.

Among other major players that have reported robust growth in exports in 2024-25, helping offset the slowdown at home, Nissan Motor saw a 66 per cent spike in exports, even as its domestic sales fell 8 per cent.

Now, Nissan is targeting an annual outbound shipment of 100,000 units by 2026-27, against 71,334 units in 2024-25.