Until recently, cars dominated India’s export basket. In FY24, passenger car exports totalled 4.3 lakh units, nearly double the 2.3 lakh units of utility vehicles shipped overseas.India’s automobile exports are undergoing a quiet but consequential shift. Utility vehicles are steadily displacing traditional passenger cars in overseas shipments, signalling a move away from the country’s long-held reputation as a small-car export hub.
The change mirrors trends in the domestic market, where SUVs, MPVs and MUVs have gained strong traction, including among first-time buyers. That demand pattern is now clearly reflected in export data, with India increasingly positioning itself as a manufacturing base for higher-value vehicles.
November marked a clear inflection point. For the first time on record, exports of utility vehicles built in India exceeded passenger car shipments across all segments. UV exports stood at 42,993 units during the month, compared with 40,519 units of passenger cars, tilting the export mix decisively in favour of utility vehicles.
Until recently, cars dominated India’s export basket. In FY24, passenger car exports totalled 4.3 lakh units, nearly double the 2.3 lakh units of utility vehicles shipped overseas.
That gap has narrowed rapidly this year. Between April and November 2025, car exports rose to 3.04 lakh units from 2.71 lakh units in the same period last year. Utility vehicle exports, however, grew at a much faster pace, jumping to 2.88 lakh units from 2.22 lakh units a year earlier.
Industry analysts say the current trajectory suggests utility vehicles could overtake cars on a full-year basis in the coming months. FY26 is widely expected to be the first fiscal year in which UV exports formally surpass passenger car exports from India.
Maruti Suzuki remains the dominant force in India’s vehicle exports, accounting for over 47% of all passenger vehicles shipped overseas, including cars, UVs and vans. In the passenger car segment, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai together make up around 81% of total exports so far this fiscal year.
In utility vehicles, Maruti Suzuki holds a commanding lead, with Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai emerging as other significant exporters. Maruti’s UV export volumes are nearly equal to the combined shipments of all other manufacturers in the segment.
According to the company, compactness continues to define India’s export strategy across body styles, whether hatchbacks, sedans or SUVs, as smaller vehicles tend to be more fuel-efficient and produce lower CO2 emissions.
Sub-four-metre SUVs account for about 62% of total utility vehicle exports, underlining the dominance of compact models. Even as exports of India-built electric vehicles rise, smaller formats continue to lead. Eight of the top ten passenger vehicles exported from India measure under four metres in length, reinforcing the country’s growing role as a global hub for compact, higher-value vehicles rather than just entry-level cars.
With inputs from TOI
