Suzuki Launches India-Made SUV in Japan, Tapping Overseas Production

Suzuki Motor Corp. introduced its India-manufactured compact SUV, the Fronx, to the Japanese market on Wednesday, signaling a shift in the automaker’s strategy. The move follows Honda Motor Co.’s similar initiative, underscoring a growing trend among Japanese carmakers to leverage their overseas production capabilities.
Built at Suzuki’s Gujarat factory, the Fronx comes equipped with a mild hybrid system and is priced between 2.5 million yen ($17,000) and 2.7 million yen. The company targets monthly sales of 1,000 units in Japan.
President Toshihiro Suzuki emphasized the Fronx’s role as a “global strategic vehicle,” highlighting India’s importance in Suzuki’s mass production plans. The Gujarat facility, with an annual capacity of 750,000 vehicles, serves as the company’s global model hub.
Suzuki’s strong presence in India, where it holds over 60% market share, has been pivotal. The company aims to expand its capacity to 4 million vehicles annually by 2030, up from 2.25 million.
While Suzuki benefits from tariff exemptions under the Japan-India economic partnership agreement, the company faces challenges in exporting more India-made vehicles due to rapid domestic market growth in India. President Suzuki stressed the importance of maintaining Suzuki’s quality standards regardless of production location.