Maruti Suzuki India, the country's leading passenger vehicle maker, has announced that it has crossed cumulative exports of 15 lakh (1.5 million) vehicles. These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa.

Early this year, the company’s premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan. Maruti Suzuki first began its export operations in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary. Thereafter, exports have grown at a steady pace as new models and markets were added to the export programme. Some of the early much-in-demand export models included the Zen, the Maruti 800 and later the A-Star.

The Alto, India’s most popular car brand for over a decade, also has a sizeable presence in the export markets and has clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively. Commenting on achieving the 1.5 million export landmark, managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Kenichi Ayukawa, said, “We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports. Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like the Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe”. He added, “Our premium hatchback Baleno, made exclusively in India, is the first car to be exported from India to Japan. It has become a symbol of the Make-in-India mission of Prime Minister NarendraModi, and taken India’s exports story to a new level”.

In 2015-16, the top-five exported models for the company were the Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and the Ciaz. Countries like Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia have emerged as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models. The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future.