The Indian automobile industry is making its presence felt globally with rising exports, multiple acquisitions and heightened exposure to overseas markets.

In February this year something very uncommon, if not unprecedented, happened in the Indian automotive industry. The country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, exported a batch of 1,800 units of its latest premium compact car Baleno to its home market Japan. Export of cars from India have gained significant volumes and are growing fast but even then this tranche was of special relevance. It was the first time ever that Maruti, where Suzuki owns a majority 54 per cent, was exporting a model from its factories in India to parent Suzuki’s home country. Over the last decade...