推动全球：印度乘用车出口的增长及其作为汽车出口中心的崛起

Emergence as an Automotive Export Hub India’s automotive sector has long been a pillar of its industrial and economicstrength. The growing momentum in passenger vehicle exports signals a newchapter in the country's global trade aspirations. The world’s third-largestautomobile market by volume, India has evolved from a domestic consumption-driven auto economy to an increasingly important export-orientedmanufacturing base. The rise in passenger vehicle exports underscores India'smanufacturing competitiveness and its ability to meet global standards inquality, safety, and design. The automotive industry in India has undergone a remarkable transformationover the past seven decades. In its early years post-independence, India’svehicle production was tightly controlled, with limited product offerings and highimport tariffs. The liberalisation of the 1990s ushered in foreign investmentsand joint ventures, which enabled access to innovative technology and design,and global best practices. The result was the emergence of a vibrant andintegrated auto ecosystem comprising OEMs (Original EquipmentManufacturers), suppliers, testing facilities, and export infrastructure. Today,India is not only producingvehiclesfor domestic use but alsoemergingas a key export hub forc o m p a c tc a r s ,s e d a n s ,S U V s ,a ndincreasingly,electric vehicles.Exportmarkets range from Latin America andAfrica to Southeast Asia and the MiddleEast,with Indian-made cars gainingpopularityfor their affordability,fuele f fi c ie n c y,a nd d u r a b i l i t y.M a j o rmanufacturers such as Hyundai, Suzuki,Tata Motors, and Kia are using India as astrategic production and export base forglobal markets. India,’ the Production Linked Incentive(PLI)scheme,and FTA negotiations,aimingto position India as a globallycompetitive,self-reliant automotivepowerhouse. Asthe global auto landscape shiftstoward sustainability, connected mobility,and regional supply chain diversification,India’s role as an automotive export hubi sp o i s e d to b e c o me e v e n m o r eprominent. INDIA’SAUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRYLANDSCAPE Thesignificance of passenger vehicleexportsis further amplified in thecontext of India’s broader industrial andtrade policy. Export growth contributes toforeign exchange earnings, job creation,industrialcapacity utilisation,and as t r ongb a l a n c e of p a y me nt s .T hegovernmenthas also prioritised thesectorunder initiatives like‘Make in India’s automotive industry is one of thelargest and most diverse in the world. It ispivotal role in the country’s economicdevelopment,contributing~7.1%toIndia’s GDP and employing ~37 millionpeople,directly and indirectly.Withrobustmanufacturing capabilities,awell-developed component supplier base, andincreasing integration with globalvalue chains, India is positioning itself asa formidable player not only in domestic consumptionbut also as a globalmanufacturingand export hub forpassenger vehicles. havebuilt high-capacity productionplants geared to meet domestic demandand serve international markets. Theseplantsfollow global quality standards,enablingIndian-made vehicles to beexported to ~100 countries. Domestic Strengths: The foundationof export capability I n d i a ’ sj o u r n e y i n a u t o m o t i v emanufacturingbegan modestly in thepost-independence era, dominated by afew players like Hindustan Motors andP r e m i e r .H o w e v e r ,t h e r e a ltransformation occurred post-1991 withliberalisation,which invited foreigndirect investment (FDI) and technologycollaborations. Today, India is home to~15global automobile manufacturerswhohave set up production facilitiesacross the country. India’scomparative advantages—cost-effectivelabour,engineering talent,awide vendor base, and improving ease ofdoingbusiness—further strengthen itsappealas a global production base.Compact cars have become India’s forte,aligning with the international demandfor fuel-efficient and affordable vehiclesin developing and emerging markets. I n d i a ’ sp a s s e n g e r v e h i c l es e g me nt — c o m p r i s i n gh a t c h b a c k s ,sedans,SUVs,and MPVs—has seenexponentialgrowth over the past twodecades.Automotive clusters haveemerged in Chennai (the Detroit of Asia),Pune,Gujarat,NCR,and Karnataka,offering a complete ecosystem of OEMs,Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers, R&D centres,t e s t i n gf a c i l i t i e s ,a n d l o g i s t i c sinfrastructure. MarutiSuzuki,Hyundai,Tata Motors,Mahindra&Mahindra,Kia Motors,ToyotaKirloskar,and Renault-Nissan to domestic preferences and align withthe global buyer expectations. E me r g i n gT r e n d s :I n n o v a t i o n ,Electrification, and Localisation A u t o n o m o u sd r i v i n g a n d A DA S(AdvancedDriver-Assistance Systems)aregaining traction,especially inpremiumand export-oriented models.Startups and joint ventures are exploringsolutionsaround AI-enabled driverbehaviour analysis, smart navigation, andcollisionprevention,preparing Indian-made vehicles for future glob