TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp. is planning to expand its car dealership network in India by 70 percent, aiming for around 6,800 dealership stores by 2030, local media reported.
The company intends to increase its presence in smaller cities, seeking to build a more comprehensive nationwide sales network as the Indian market has become a crucial focus for Japan’s car manufacturers, Nikkei reported.
Currently holding a 40-percent market share in India, Suzuki has quickened its pace of opening more dealership stores in the country as India is projected to see increasing demand for automobiles.
According to S&P Global, India’s new car sales could grow by 45 percent by 2031 from the 2023 level, reaching 6.84 million units annually, 1.5 times Japan’s current new car sales, the report noted.
Suzuki is not the only Japanese automaker betting big on India. Toyota also plans to ramp up production in the country as it reached an agreement with the Indian government to build a new factory.
As Suzuki strengthens its electric vehicle (EV) capabilities, it also plans to turn India into a major export hub for EVs, the report added.
