Top 10 Foreign Automobile Brands in India: Who Controls the Roads?
From Maruti Suzuki to BMW, India's roads are dominated by foreign-controlled automobile brands. Here's a complete ownership breakdown of the top 10.
The Indian automobile market is the third-largest in the world by volume. And yet, the vast majority of cars sold in India are manufactured by foreign-controlled companies. While the manufacturing happens in India, the intellectual property, brand royalties, and majority profits flow abroad. Here are the ten largest foreign automobile brands in India by market presence.
1. Maruti Suzuki — Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (~58%)
India's largest carmaker with ~40% market share. Suzuki holds 58% of the listed Indian entity. Manufactures in Gurugram and Manesar, Haryana. The Maruti name is Indian; the controlling ownership is Japanese.
2. Hyundai Motor India — Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea (~82.5%)
India's second-largest car brand. Listed on Indian exchanges in 2024, but Hyundai Motor Company retains 82.5%. Manufactures in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Best-selling models: Creta, i20, Venue.
3. Kia India — Kia Corporation, South Korea (100%)
Wholly owned Indian subsidiary. Manufactures in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Seltos, Sonet, and Carens have been among India's top-selling SUVs since 2019.
4. Toyota Kirloskar Motor — Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan (majority)
Joint venture, but Toyota holds majority control. Manufactures in Bidadi, Karnataka. Key models: Innova Crysta, Fortuner, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Camry Hybrid.
5. Honda Cars India — Honda Motor Co., Japan (majority)
Honda's car division in India. Manufactures in Greater Noida and Tapukara, Rajasthan. Sells City, Amaze, and Elevate in India. Two-wheeler division (Activa, Shine) is a separate entity.
6. MG Motor India — SAIC Motor Corporation, China (majority)
MG Motor is a British brand (Morris Garages) now owned by SAIC Motor, China's largest state-owned automaker. MG India is majority-SAIC-controlled, making it Chinese-owned despite the British branding.
7. Volkswagen India / Skoda Auto Volkswagen India — Volkswagen AG, Germany
Volkswagen Group (also controlling Skoda, Audi, Porsche in India) operates through Indian subsidiaries. Manufactures in Pune and Chakan, Maharashtra. Wholly German-controlled.
8. BMW India — BMW AG, Germany (100%)
Wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG, Munich. Assembles luxury cars in Chennai. Sells 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, X3, and electric iX series in India.
9. Mercedes-Benz India — Mercedes-Benz AG, Germany (majority)
Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd. is majority-owned by Daimler AG (now Mercedes-Benz Group AG). Manufactures in Pune. India's largest luxury car brand by volume.
10. Renault India / Nissan India — Renault-Nissan Alliance, France/Japan
Renault India Pvt. Ltd. is controlled by Renault S.A., France. Nissan Motor India is controlled by Nissan Motor Co., Japan. Both share a manufacturing facility in Chennai. Sell the Renault Triber, Kwid, and Nissan Magnite in India.
The two genuinely Indian automakers
India has two major Indian-controlled automobile manufacturers:
- Tata Motors — Tata Group (Indian conglomerate, Tata Sons holds majority)
- Mahindra & Mahindra — Mahindra Group (Indian promoters hold majority)
If Indian automobile ownership matters to your purchasing decision, Tata and Mahindra are the major options. Explore their brand profiles on the Switch To India platform.
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