India's auto exports xoom 22% in Q1 on record car shipments; Maruti grabs nearly half the pie

Automobile exports from India grew 22 per cent year-on-year in the April-June quarter, driven by record shipments of passenger vehicles and strong performance in segments such as two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, according to data from industry body SIAM.Overall exports across all vehicle categories rose to 14,57,461 units in the first quarter of the current fiscal, up from 11,92,566 units during the same period last year.Passenger vehicle exports touched an all-time high of 2,04,330 units in Q1, registering a 13 per cent rise from 1,80,483 units in the corresponding period of the previous year.The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) attributed the growth in passenger vehicle exports to stable demand in most global markets, particularly noting robust performance in regions such as the Middle East and Latin America.SIAM also highlighted that a rebound in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal, rising demand from Japan, and increased shipments under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries like Australia supported the overall export momentum.Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, led the passenger vehicle export charts in Q1 with shipments of 96,181 units—up more than 37 per cent from 69,962 units in the April-June quarter last year."Maruti Suzuki has been leading India's PV exports for the past four years," said Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, at Maruti Suzuki."Our share in exports has been increasing steadily and reached a historic high of over 47 per cent in Q1 FY 2025-26," he added.Bharti noted that Maruti Suzuki's export volumes rose over 37 per cent in the quarter, compared to a 2 per cent decline for the rest of the industry."If customers around the world appreciate and adopt Maruti Suzuki cars, chances are the company will be the market leader in India for a long, long time," he remarked.Hyundai Motor India exported 48,140 units during the quarter, marking a 13 per cent increase from 42,600 units in the same period last year.Two-wheeler exports climbed to 11,36,942 units in the April-June period, a rise of 23 per cent over 9,23,148 units shipped in the year-ago quarter.Commercial vehicle exports also saw a 23 per cent increase year-on-year, with total shipments reaching 19,427 units in Q1.Similarly, three-wheeler exports surged 34 per cent to 95,796 units during the quarter, compared to the same period last fiscalWith inputs from PTI