Key highlights
- Suzuki has overtaken Honda in global sales to become Japan’s second-largest automaker, behind Toyota.
- Suzuki sold a record 18.24 lakh vehicles globally between April and September 2026, registering 19.9% growth.
- Strong demand in India, where Maruti Suzuki commands around 40% of the passenger vehicle market, played a major role in the rise.
India’s importance to the global automotive industry has just received another reminder. Suzuki Motor Corporation has moved ahead of Honda to become Japan’s second-largest automaker by global sales, and a big part of that achievement comes from the company’s performance in India through Maruti Suzuki.
The ranking is based on sales figures for the April-September 2026 period reported by Japan’s eight major automakers. Suzuki climbed from fourth position a year ago after selling a record 1,824,006 vehicles worldwide, a 19.9% increase over the same period last year. Honda, meanwhile, reported global sales of 1,661,569 units, down 4%. Toyota continues to hold the top spot by a considerable margin.
India gives Suzuki the edge
Suzuki’s growth has been closely linked to its performance in India, where Maruti Suzuki remains the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, with around 40% market share.
The Indian market has become increasingly important for Suzuki as it looks to expand its global volumes. Models across the hatchback, sedan and SUV segments have helped Maruti maintain strong sales, while its extensive dealership and service network continues to give it an advantage in smaller cities and towns.
The numbers also highlight how different the fortunes of Japan’s major carmakers have become. Suzuki’s 19.9% growth stands in sharp contrast to Honda’s decline, with the latter particularly affected by its performance in China.
Honda and Nissan struggle in China
Honda’s global sales fell 4% to 1.66 million units during the six-month period. A steep 50% decline in China was a major factor behind the drop.
Nissan faced a similar challenge. Its global sales fell 11.8% to 1.35 million units, while sales in China declined by more than 40%.
Japanese manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in China, where local brands have made significant progress in electric vehicles and are putting pressure on established players. The shift towards EVs has exposed the limitations of some Japanese manufacturers’ existing product strategies in the market.
Toyota remains comfortably ahead
Despite reporting a decline, Toyota continues to be Japan’s largest automaker by a substantial margin. Including Lexus, it sold 5.05 million vehicles globally between April and September 2026, down 4% year-on-year. Its production also declined by 1.9% to 4.89 million units.
Toyota’s sales in China fell 25.1%, although demand for its hybrid models helped it record growth in North America and Europe.
Among the other Japanese manufacturers, Mazda recorded a 1.2% increase in global sales to 6.16 lakh units. Daihatsu grew 0.5% to 4.94 lakh units, while Subaru registered 3.4% growth to 4.70 lakh units. Mitsubishi and Nissan, on the other hand, reported declines.
Interestingly, the combined global sales of Japan’s eight major automakers fell 1.3% to 11.83 million units during the period.
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