By Lal Singh Indian automobile market is growing rapidly, driven by record sales, booming economy, rising middle class income and a young population. Automobile exports from India rose by 19% to over 5.3 million units in FY25, led by strong demand for both passenger and commercial vehicles. India offers 10-25% savings in operational costs for automobile firms compared to Europe and Americas.
Indian automobile market is replete with leading manufacturers with a global presence. They operate in multiple segments, right from budget models and SUVs to premium models, commercial vehicles and EVs. Let’s have a look at the top 10 automobile companies dominating the Indian market for the year 2026.
1. Maruti Suzuki India Limited
Maruti Suzuki India Limited, headquartered in New Delhi, is India’s largest automobile manufacturer, holding a dominant position in the passenger vehicle segment, with 40-42% market share. Founded in 1981 as a joint venture between Maruti Udyog Limited and Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, it is an undisputed leader in the Indian automobile market. The company operates major manufacturing plants in Manesar, Gurugram and Kharkhoda.
Maruti Suzuki India offers a wide range of automobiles, including hatchbacks, SUVs and EVs. Its popular models in India include Dzire, Swift, Wagonr, Ertiga, Brezza, Grand Vitara and Victoris.
2. Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, is a leading automobile company in India. Founded in the year 1945, it is a part of the diversified conglomerate, Mahindra Group. The company is particularly dominant in the SUV segment and is also among the global leaders in tractors and commercial vehicles. It is also growing strongly in the EV segment.
Mahindra and Mahindra has a long SUV-centric line-up. Some of its popular models in the Indian market include Scorpio N and Classic, Thar and Thar Roxx, XUV700, BE 6 and XEV 9e. The company’s key manufacturing facilities are located in Chakan, Nashik and Zaheerabad.
3. Hyundai Motor India Limited
Hyundai Motor India Limited, headquartered in Chennai, is a strong player in the Indian automobile market and is India’s largest passenger vehicle exporter. Founded in the year 1996, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the South Korean multinational automobile giant, Hyundai Motor Company. The company operates major plants at Sriperumbudur near Chennai and Talegaon in Pune.
Hyundai Motor India offers a SUV-focused line-up. Its best-selling models in the Indian market include Creta and Creta Electric, Venue, Exter, Verna, Alcazar, Ioniq5 and Grand i10. The company has a network of over 1300 sales points and more than 1500 service points across India.
4. Tata Motors
Tata Motors, headquartered in Mumbai, is one India’s leading home-grown automobile manufacturers. Founded in the year 1945, it is a part of the iconic Indian conglomerate, Tata Group. The company focuses on passenger vehicles like hatchbacks, SUVs and EVs, along with commercial vehicles. It is also a leading player in the luxury segment through its Jaguar Land Rover brand.
Tata Motors’ portfolio includes a number of popular models, including Nexon, Nexon.ev, Punch, Punch.ev, Harrier, Safari and Jaguar Land Rover. The company operates key manufacturing facilities in Pune, Jamshedpur, Sanand and Pantnagar.
5. Toyota Kirloskar Motor
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, headquartered in Bangalore, is a leading premium-focused automobile manufacturer in India. Established in the year 1997, it is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Kirloskar Group. The company specialises in premium MPVs, SUVs and hybrids. It operates two manufacturing facilities in Bidadi, Karnataka.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor offers a wide range of automobiles. Some of its popular models in the Indian market include Innova HyCross, Fortuner, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Rumion, Hilux, Glanza and Taisor.
6. Kia India
Kia India, headquartered in Gurugram, is a rapidly growing automobile manufacturer in India, with over 6% share in the passenger vehicle market. Founded in the year 2017, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer, Kia Corporation. The company is known for its stylish and feature-packed SUVs and MPVs. It owns and operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh.
Kia India offers a SUV and MPV-focused line-up. The company’s popular models in the Indian market include Sonet, Seltos, Carens, Syros, EV6, EV9 and Carnival.
7. Skoda Auto India
Skoda Auto India, headquartered in Pune, is among the leading automobile companies in India, with an impressive growth in the past few years. Established in the year 2001, it is a subsidiary of Skoda Auto, operating under Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited. The company is known for its premium yet accessible SUVs and sedans with European engineering, high safety ratings and strong build quality.
Skoda Auto India offers a wide range of models. Some of its top models in the Indian market include Kylaq, Slavia, Kushaq, Kodiaq and Octavia. The company’s main manufacturing facility is located at Chakan in Pune.
8. JSW MG Motor India
JSW MG Motor India, headquartered in Gurugram, is a key player in India’s electric vehicle segment. Founded in the year 2019, it is a joint venture between the Chinese SAIC Motor and Indian JSW Group. The company focuses on feature-rich SUVs and has rapidly increased its EV portfolio. In fact, EVs account for around 80-85% of the company’s sales.
JSW MG Motor India has a SUV and EV-centric portfolio. Some of its popular models in the Indian market include Hector, Hector Plus, Windsor EV, Comet EV, ZS EV, Gloster and Aster. The company operates a production plant in Halol, Gujarat.
9. Honda Cars India Limited
Honda Cars India Limited, headquartered in Greater Noida, is among the major automobile manufacturers in India. Founded in year 1995, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Japanese multinational, Honda Motor Company. The company focuses on premium sedans and compact SUVs. It operates production plants in Greater Noida, UP and Tapukara, Rajasthan.
Honda’s top models in the Indian market include City, City Hybrid, Amaze and Elevate. The company is particularly strong in mid-sized sedans.
10. Force Motors Limited
Force Motors Limited, headquartered in Pune, is a leading automobile manufacturer in the commercial and utility vehicle segment. Founded in the year 1958, Force Motors specialises in vans, minibuses and rugged off-roaders. However, the company also manufactures passenger vehicles like MUVs and lifestyle SUVs.
Force Motors’ popular models in the Indian market include Traveller, Urbania, Trax Cruiser and Gurkha. The company operates production plants in Pune, Pithampur and Chennai.
Conclusion
India’s automobile industry is the third-largest largest in the world by production volume. It contributes 7-8% to the country’s GDP. SUVs are currently dominating the Indian automobile market.