Maruti Suzuki crosses 1 lakh Japan exports with Made-in-India Jimny, Fronx and e Vitara
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Maruti Suzuki India has crossed a significant export milestone in Japan, with cumulative shipments of its Made-in-India Jimny 5-door, Fronx and e Vitara surpassing 1 lakh units, underlining the growing role of India in Suzuki’s global manufacturing and export strategy. Japan, one of the world’s most competitive automobile markets, was Maruti Suzuki’s second-largest export destination by volume in FY 2025-26 and retained that position during April-August of FY 2026-27, according to the company.
The export programme to Japan has expanded rapidly over the past two years. Shipments of the Fronx began in August 2024, followed by the Jimny 5-door in December 2024. Maruti Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara, was added to the Japan-bound portfolio in September 2025. The Jimny 5-door and e VITARA are manufactured exclusively in India, making the milestone significant for the country’s ambitions to become a larger automotive manufacturing and export base.
Japan becomes key export market
The company said Suzuki Motor Corporation emerged as Japan’s No. 1 vehicle importer in FY 2025-26, based on data released by the Japan Automobile Importers Association. Maruti Suzuki-manufactured vehicles accounted for nearly 100% of Suzuki’s vehicle imports into Japan during the fiscal year.
Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the more than 1 lakh-unit milestone demonstrates the acceptance of vehicles manufactured in India in one of the most demanding automobile markets. He also linked the development to the evolution of the India-Japan automotive partnership, noting that Japan has now become the second-largest market for Maruti Suzuki’s exports.
Exports top 1.8 lakh units in April-August
The Japan milestone comes as Maruti Suzuki continues to scale up its broader overseas business. The automaker said it exported more than 1.8 lakh units between April and August of FY 2026-27, while its vehicles accounted for more than 50% of India’s passenger vehicle exports, based on SIAM data for April-July.
Maruti Suzuki has remained India’s largest passenger vehicle exporter from FY 2021-22 through FY 2025-26, according to SIAM data cited by the company. Its export network now covers nearly 120 countries, giving the automaker a sizeable overseas footprint beyond its domestic market.