How Many Car Brands Are Made in India? Latest Count & Details

How Many Car Brands Are Made in India? Latest Count & Details
Rajen Silverton Oct, 26 2025

Car Manufacturing Capacity Calculator

Brand Selection
Capacity Distribution
Current Brand Count: 17+ Brands
0-100,000 100,000-500,000 500,000-1,000,000 1,000,000+
Selected Brands Summary

Select brands to see total capacity here

Capacity Breakdown:

Total Capacity: 0 units/year

Number of Brands Selected: 0

Ever wondered just how many car brands actually roll out vehicles from Indian soil? India’s auto scene has exploded over the past two decades, turning the sub‑continent into a genuine production hub. Below you’ll find a full rundown of every brand that manufactures cars here, how they got started, and what they’re cranking out today.

Why the number of brands matters

When investors, job‑seekers, or car enthusiasts ask about the car brands India hosts, they’re really probing three things: market diversity, employment potential, and the country’s export muscle. A higher brand count usually means more competition, better tech transfer, and a stronger supply chain that benefits everything from steel mills to software firms.

What qualifies as a "brand made in India"?

For this list we only count brands that have a manufacturing plant (or a joint‑venture facility) within India’s borders and actually assemble complete vehicles there. Import‑only outfits, after‑market tuners, and brands that only do final‑stage painting are excluded.

Major Indian car brands (with microdata)

Here's the core group that dominates the market. Each entry is marked up the first time it appears so search engines can pick them up cleanly.

Indian car brands are the manufacturers that produce complete passenger vehicles on Indian soil, ranging from budget hatchbacks to premium SUVs.

  • Maruti Suzuki the market leader, part of Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp., operating plants in Gurgaon, Manesar and other locations.
  • Hyundai Motor India South Korean giant with a massive plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
  • Tata Motors India’s home‑grown heavyweight, producing everything from the Tiago to the Nexon.
  • Mahindra & Mahindra known for rugged SUVs and the electric eVerito, with factories in Chennai and Nagpur.
  • Kia Motors India Kia’s Indian arm, sharing a plant with Hyundai in Sriperumbudur.
  • Toyota Kirloskar Motor Japanese giant that assembles the Innova Crysta and Fortuner in Bidadi, Karnataka.
  • Renault India French brand that manufactures the Kwid and Triber at a plant in Chennai.
Inside a busy Indian auto plant with robots assembling hatchbacks and SUVs alongside technicians.

Full list of car brands with manufacturing facilities in India (2025)

Beyond the big seven, several other marques have a foothold, either through joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiaries, or licensed production. They add depth to the ecosystem and often serve niche segments.

Comparison of car brands that manufacture in India (2025)
Brand Parent Company / Ownership First Indian Plant Year Key Models Assembled Annual Production Capacity (units)
Maruti Suzuki Suzuki Motor Corp. (70% stake) 1982 Alto, Swift, Baleno 2,000,000
Hyundai Motor India Hyundai Motor Co. 1996 i20, Creta, Venue 1,320,000
Tata Motors Tata Group 1991 Tigor, Nexon, Altroz 1,000,000
Mahindra & Mahindra Mahindra Group 1997 XUV300, Scorpio, eVerito 550,000
Kia Motors India Kia Corp. 2017 Sonet, Seltos, Carnival 720,000
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Toyota Motor Corp. 1997 Innova Crysta, Fortuner 500,000
Renault India Renault S.A. 2010 Kwid, Triber, Duster 300,000
Honda Cars India Honda Motor Co. 1995 Jazz, City, WR-V 250,000
MG Motor India SAIC Motor Corp. 2019 Hector, Gloster, ZS EV 200,000
Volkswagen India Volkswagen AG 2007 Polo, Vento, Taigun 180,000
Force Motors Force Motors Ltd. 2002 Kargo, Traveller 90,000
Aveo (Mahindra Group) Mahindra Group (joint venture) 2011 Aveo S1, S3 70,000

New entrants and upcoming projects (2025‑2027)

India’s policy environment is friendly to fresh players. The “Make in India” initiative and lower corporate tax rates have attracted several newcomers:

  • BYD Auto - Chinese EV maker plans a 500,000‑unit plant in Tamil Nadu by 2026.
  • Mercedes‑Benz - Announced a compact‑car assembly line in Pune for the upcoming EQB EV.
  • Nissan - Re‑enters with a joint venture in Karnataka to build a 300,000‑unit sedan/EV hub.

These projects will push the total count beyond the current 13‑plus brands, nudging India closer to a 20‑brand ecosystem by the end of the decade.

How the brand count has evolved over the last decade

In 2015, only eight manufacturers had a full‑scale plant in the country. The number rose to twelve by 2020, then to thirteen in 2022 after MG and Renault expanded capacity. The surge of EV‑focused players in 2023‑2025 added at least four more, bringing today’s tally to roughly seventeen active brands.

Growth spikes usually align with two factors:

  1. Policy incentives such as reduced customs duty on CKD (Completely Knocked‑Down) kits.
  2. Consumer demand for locally priced, fuel‑efficient, or electric models.

When those levers ease, foreign firms rush in; when they tighten, we see plant closures (like Ford’s 2021 shutdown).

Futuristic Indian automotive complex showing electric‑vehicle factories, solar canopies, and export ships.

Key drivers shaping brand presence in India

Understanding why a brand decides to set up shop helps predict future entries.

  • Market size: Over 30 million cars sold since 2020, with a CAGR of 6%.
  • Cost advantage: Labor rates average $350 per month, far below China’s $850.
  • Supply chain depth: More than 500 component suppliers located within a 200‑km radius of major plants.
  • Regulatory support: Faster clearances for green‑field projects, tax holidays up to ten years.
  • Export potential: Cars built in India can reach Africa, Middle East, and Latin America under favorable trade agreements.

Brands that can tap these levers often stay, while those that can’t-like the now‑defunct Ford-exit.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re job‑hunting, the 13‑plus manufacturers employ around 2.5 million people directly and millions more indirectly. If you’re an investor, the expanding brand count suggests a rising valuation for ancillary suppliers. And if you’re a buyer, more brands mean better pricing and variety-from ultra‑budget hatchbacks to premium electric SUVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many car brands currently manufacture in India?

As of October 2025, about seventeen distinct brands have full‑scale assembly plants operating in the country.

Which Indian brand has the highest production capacity?

Maruti Suzuki leads with roughly two million units per year, followed by Hyundai’s 1.32 million.

Are electric‑only brands counting in the total?

Yes. Brands like MG Motor (which now makes the ZS EV) and newcomer BYD are included because they assemble electric cars domestically.

What’s the biggest challenge for foreign brands setting up plants?

Navigating complex land‑acquisition rules and ensuring a reliable local supplier base are the two toughest hurdles.

Will the number of brands keep rising?

Projections suggest at least five new entrants by 2030, driven mainly by the EV wave and continued government incentives.

Got more questions? Keep an eye on policy updates and quarterly production reports-they’re the best pulse‑checks on how the brand landscape shifts.