India-made Hondas, Suzukis lift Japan's reverse auto imports to record

Low-cost labor and higher-quality supply chains keep foreign factories humming

Suzuki Motor President Toshihiro Suzuki, right, and others pose with the Fronx sport utility vehicle at a Japan launch event in October. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanada)

SOTA TANAKA, SHOYA OKINAGA and RYOSUKE HANADA, Nikkei staff writers

January 14, 2025 04:06 JST

TOKYO -- The share of Japanese autos manufactured overseas and sold back home hit an all-time high in 2024 as Honda Motor and Suzuki Motor stepped up shipments from India.

Reverse imports jumped 48% on the year to 93,587 vehicles. They accounted for about 2% of all new autos sold in Japan, the first record high in three years.