Car Brands Made in India: Top Manufacturers and What They Build

When you think of cars in India, you’re probably thinking of Maruti Suzuki, India’s most common car brand, built locally for over 40 years with parts sourced from hundreds of Indian suppliers. Also known as Suzuki India, it’s not just popular—it’s the backbone of the country’s passenger vehicle market. But Maruti isn’t the only one. Tata Motors, India’s oldest and largest homegrown automaker, designs and builds everything from compact hatchbacks to electric SUVs in its own factories across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. It’s the only Indian company that also makes commercial trucks, buses, and military vehicles at scale. Then there’s Hyundai India, the largest foreign carmaker by volume in India, operating a massive plant in Chennai that exports cars to over 50 countries. These three aren’t just selling cars—they’re shaping how India moves.

Most cars sold in India are made here, even if the brand sounds foreign. Companies like Toyota, Skoda, and Volkswagen have assembly lines in India, but they don’t build everything from scratch. They import key parts like engines and transmissions, then assemble them locally to save on taxes and meet demand. This is called CKD (Completely Knocked Down) manufacturing. It’s not the same as full local production, but it still creates thousands of jobs and supports a network of Indian suppliers who make seats, dashboards, wiring, and even brake pads. Meanwhile, MG Motor and Stellantis (Jeep, Citroën) are pushing into electric vehicles with local factories, betting on India’s growing EV market. The real shift isn’t just about who builds what—it’s about who controls the supply chain. Companies that make batteries, motors, and software in India are the ones winning long-term.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of car models—it’s the real story behind the factories, the people, and the decisions that turn steel and plastic into the cars you see on Indian roads. From how Tata’s electric SUVs are assembled in Jamshedpur to why Maruti’s small cars dominate rural markets, these articles cut through the marketing and show you what actually happens on the ground. You’ll learn what makes a car truly "Made in India," who benefits, and where the next big changes are coming.