Chennai: Despite mounting geopolitical tensions, India’s automobile exporters delivered a surprisingly strong performance in Q1 of this fiscal. Nearly 2 million vehicles were shipped overseas, with two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and three-wheelers driving growth. Total exports rose 34% year-on-year to 1.96 million units, according to SIAM data.This strong growth has been achieved despite the conflict in West Asia—a crucial market for Indian vehicle makers—which disrupted shipping schedules and raised freight costs.“Diversified export markets and robust demand helped offset the disruption,” according to industry representatives.Passenger vehicle exports were led by utility vehicles, underscoring the global shift towards SUVs. While exports of passenger cars fell 5% to 98,140 units, utility vehicle shipments climbed 25%, lifting overall passenger vehicle exports, including vans, by 9% to 2.2 lakh units.Maruti Suzuki drove India’s PV exports. It shipped 1.2 lakh units of UVs and cars during the quarter, accounting for 55% of India’s total—more than all other PV exporters combined. Hyundai was a distant second with 38,708 units, followed by Nissan at 12,548.The country’s largest carmaker also retained its position as India’s biggest exporter of utility vehicles, shipping 74,701 units, well ahead of its passenger car exports of 47,021 units.“Maruti Suzuki has aligned its business policies with national priorities and has therefore placed a strong focus on exports. We grew by over 28% in Q1 despite the West Asia war, as we have diversified our exports to more than 100 countries,” Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs, Maruti Suzuki, told TOI.Two-wheelers, India’s largest export category, posted even stronger growth. Motorcycle exports rose 35% to 1.3 million units, while scooter shipments jumped 50.5% to 2.2 lakh units during the quarter.Bajaj Auto remained the country’s largest motorcycle exporter, with shipments rising 52% to 6.4 lakh units during Apr-Jun 2026 period. TVS Motor, which exports both motorcycles and scooters, recorded a 32% increase in two-wheeler exports to 4.2 lakh units.In Q1FY27, three-wheeler exports grew 58% to 1.5 lakh units.
