Maruti Suzuki Plans Eight SUVs to Reclaim 50 Per Cent Market Share

Maruti Suzuki India will launch eight sports utility vehicles over the next five years as part of its strategy to regain a 50 per cent share of the domestic passenger vehicle market, Suzuki Motor Corporation Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki announced on Wednesday. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Suzuki acknowledged that competition in the Indian car market has intensified and described achieving the 50 per cent target as the most challenging task in the company's history in India. The eight SUVs will expand Maruti Suzuki's model range to 28 vehicles over the next five to six years. 

What segments Maruti Suzuki will target with these SUVs remains to be seen as there is no disclosure yet on those details. In the April-September period of the current fiscal year, Maruti Suzuki's market share in the domestic passenger vehicle market dropped to around 39 per cent, down from 51.2 per cent in FY19. The company currently sells 18 models in the domestic market. 

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Victoris Review 

Suzuki Motor Corporation has outlined an investment plan of 1,200 billion yen, approximately Rs 70,000 crore, for India through FY2030-31. The investment will focus on capital expenditure to expand production capacity and achieve the company's market share target. 

The company plans to increase its annual production capacity in India to 4 million units by FY2030-31. Maruti Suzuki currently operates manufacturing facilities in Gurgaon, Manesar and Gujarat with a total annual production capacity of 2.6 million units following the commissioning of the Kharkhoda plant in February 2025. 

In January 2024, Maruti Suzuki announced plans for a new plant in Gujarat with a capacity of 1 million units annually, requiring an investment of 350 billion rupees. The company also committed to establishing a fourth production line at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited with an investment of 32 billion rupees, expected to start operations in FY2026-27. In March 2025, the company's board approved a third plant at Kharkhoda with a capacity of 2.5 lakh units per year, requiring an investment of Rs 7,410 crore. 

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris, launched on September 15, 2025, has received over 25,000 bookings since its introduction. The SUV recorded 4,261 units in sales in September 2025, its first month in the market. Waiting periods for the Victoris have extended to around 10 weeks due to strong demand.  

Suzuki emphasised a multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality, which includes battery electric vehicles, strong hybrids, flex-fuel, compressed natural gas, hydrogen and biogas-powered models. The company expects CNG and biogas-powered models to comprise 35 per cent of its total powertrain mix by FY31, with internal combustion and hybrid vehicles contributing 25 per cent each. 

Suzuki has announced plans to establish nine compressed biogas plants in Gujarat by 2027 in collaboration with Amul, Banas Dairy and the National Dairy Development Board. The company commenced operations at a pilot biogas plant at its Manesar facility in June 2024, which produces 0.2 tonnes of biogas daily. 

India has emerged as Suzuki's number one export hub globally, accounting for more than 60 per cent of its worldwide output. In FY25, Maruti Suzuki exported over 3.3 lakh vehicles, a figure that has grown more than threefold in the past five years. The company expects exports to reach 4 lakh units in the current fiscal year. In September 2025, Maruti Suzuki achieved record monthly exports of 42,204 units, representing a 52.2 per cent year-on-year increase. 

Suzuki also confirmed that the company aims to become the leading producer and seller of electric vehicles in India whilst scaling up exports. The company launched its first electric vehicle, the eVitara, for export to over 100 countries from its Gujarat facility.