Honda Cars India Achieves Landmark 200,000 Export Milestone

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has reached a significant manufacturing milestone, successfully exporting 200,000 vehicles to global markets, reinforcing India's position as a key automotive production hub. This achievement underscores the growing international recognition of Indian-manufactured vehicles and highlights the country's expanding role in global automotive supply chains. 

The Japanese automaker's export journey from India began modestly with shipments primarily to neighbouring regions. The first 50,000 units were exported mainly to SAARC countries, South Africa, and Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations through 2021. The company then expanded its reach over the subsequent 2.5 years, dispatching another 50,000 units to Left Hand Drive markets including the Middle East, Mexico, and Turkey, with the Honda City being the primary export model. 

The most remarkable acceleration occurred in recent years, with HCIL achieving the final 100,000 unit milestone in just two years. This rapid growth was driven primarily by international demand for the mid-size SUV Honda Elevate, which has successfully penetrated new markets including Japan, South America, and Caribbean nations. Notably, the Elevate is marketed as the WR-V in Japan, marking the first instance of a Honda model being exported from India to Japan. 

Honda's export portfolio now spans 33 countries across diverse regions. Japan leads as the largest export destination, accounting for 30% of shipments, followed by South Africa and SADC countries at 26%. Mexico represents 19% of exports, whilst Turkey accounts for 16%. The remaining 9% is distributed amongst countries in the Middle East, SAARC region, Caribbean, and South America. 

The Honda City and Honda Elevate models have emerged as the primary contributors to export success, collectively representing 78% of total export volume. The remaining 22% comprises a diverse range of models including the Brio, Amaze, Jazz, BR-V, Mobilio, City e:HEV, Accord, and CR-V. 

Kunal Behl, Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Honda Cars India Ltd., commented on the achievement: "Reaching 200,000 export units fills Honda Cars India with immense pride. This milestone underscores the global recognition of our India-made cars and reflects the dedication of our skilled teams and robust manufacturing capabilities". He emphasised that exports remain integral to HCIL's business and revenue strategy, reaffirming the company's commitment to strengthening this area whilst supporting the 'Make in India' initiative. 

This export milestone represents a broader trend of Indian automotive manufacturers establishing themselves as credible suppliers to international markets, demonstrating the maturation of India's automotive manufacturing sector and its capacity to meet global quality standards whilst serving both domestic and international customers effectively.