India's automotive industry is witnessing a historic transformation, moving decisively beyond its long-standing identity as a hub for small cars. A significant shift in consumer preference towards utility vehicles (UVs) like SUVs, MPVs, and MUVs is now powerfully reflected in the country's export figures, marking a new chapter for 'Make in India'.
A Historic Inflection Point in November
The turning point arrived in November 2024. For the first time ever, exports of India-built utility vehicles surpassed shipments of made-in-India passenger cars across all segments. The numbers tell a clear story: UV exports stood at 42,993 units, edging past passenger car exports of 40,519 units. This milestone indicates that the global market is increasingly embracing India's manufacturing prowess for higher-value vehicles.
This is a dramatic change from the recent past. Just in the last fiscal year (FY24), car exports dominated at 4.3 lakh units, while UV exports were significantly lower at 2.3 lakh units. The gap has been closing rapidly, driven by sustained momentum.
Sustained Momentum Points to a Permanent Shift
The data for the period from April to November 2024 underscores this accelerating trend. Total car exports grew to 3.04 lakh units, up from 2.71 lakh units in the same period a year earlier. However, UV exports saw a much sharper rise, jumping to 2.88 lakh units from 2.22 lakh units. Given this strong growth trajectory, total UV exports are projected to overtake car exports completely in the coming months. Industry analysts expect FY26 to become the first fiscal year where this new export reality is formally cemented.
Key Players and Compact Dominance
The export landscape is led by a few major manufacturers. Maruti Suzuki contributes over 47% of all passenger vehicles exported from India, including cars, UVs, and vans. In the passenger car segment, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai together command about 81% of total shipments this fiscal year.
In the booming UV segment, Maruti Suzuki maintains a formidable lead. Its UV export volumes are nearly equal to the combined exports of all other manufacturers, with Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai emerging as other key players. A spokesperson for Maruti Suzuki highlighted that compactness remains a defining trait of Indian exports, noting that sub-4-metre SUVs accounted for about 62% of total UV exports. Furthermore, eight of the top ten passenger vehicles exported from India are small or compact models under four meters in length, prized for their fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions.
While exports of India-built electric vehicles are also on the rise, the current UV boom is fundamentally reshaping the country's industrial identity. India is steadily cementing its position as a global manufacturing base not just for affordable compact cars, but for the modern, feature-rich utility vehicles that today's consumers worldwide desire.
