Suzuki Motor Corp has surged to the top of Japan’s import leaderboard, surpassing Mercedes-Benz, thanks to overwhelming local demand for its India-assembled compact SUVs like the Jimny Nomad and Fronx. This marks a significant shift in global supply chains and consumer preferences in Japan.
Suzuki imported 4,780 vehicles into Japan in June 2025, recording an unprecedented 230 times growth compared to the same period last year. This pushed the Japanese automaker ahead of Germany’s Mercedes-Benz, a longtime dominant importer in Japan. These imported vehicles include the Jimny Nomad and Fronx, both manufactured in India by Maruti Suzuki, which is Suzuki’s subsidiary.
The Jimny Nomad, a 5-door extended version of Suzuki’s popular Jimny, has seen overwhelming demand. With a starting price of ¥2.65 million ($18,300), it received nearly 50,000 pre-orders ahead of its April launch, far exceeding Suzuki’s original monthly sales target of just 1,200 units. The company plans to increase India-based production of the Nomad from July onwards to meet the surging demand.
In addition to the Jimny Nomad, Suzuki has been importing the Fronx SUV from India since October 2024. The success of these India-made vehicles signifies the evolution of India as a manufacturing hub for global car markets. Low labour and production costs in India allow aggressive pricing without compromising on specifications or safety, appealing to value-conscious Japanese customers.
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Honda is following closely behind, with strong sales from its India-manufactured WR-V compact SUV, priced from ¥2.1 million. Its import numbers jumped roughly 22-fold year-on-year, reaching 45,107 units in 2024. For the first half of 2025, Honda held second position with 22,000 imported vehicles, while Mercedes-Benz led marginally with 25,016 units. Nissan also entered the fray with the Thailand-produced Kicks, securing ninth place.
With Suzuki forecasting India's annual car market to hit 20 million units by 2047, the company aims for Maruti Suzuki to capture at least 50% of this market by 2030. This further validates India’s emerging role as a strategic manufacturing base, not just for domestic demand but for export-driven strategies in major economies like Japan.
On July 4, 2025, Maruti Suzuki India share price opened at ₹12,715.00 on NSE, below the previous close of ₹12,752.00. During the day, it surged to ₹12,748.00 and dipped to ₹12,629.00. The stock is trading at ₹12,640.00 as of 10:21 AM. The stock registered a moderate decline of 0.88%.
Over the past week, it has moved up by 1.94%, over the past month, it has moved up by 1.43%, and over the past 3 months, it has moved up by 10.09%.
Suzuki’s rise as Japan’s top car importer underscores the growing global relevance of India in automotive manufacturing. The dominance of Jimny Nomad and Fronx highlights a marked shift in consumer preference toward compact, affordable, and well-built SUVs, opening new growth avenues for India-based production.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities or companies mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Jul 4, 2025, 10:42 AM IST
Team Angel One
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