Suzuki may not always dominate the headlines, but it is quietly heading toward a major moment in its history. If its latest forecast proves accurate, the company could overtake Honda and become Japan’s second-largest automaker by sales for the first time ever.
The key to that growth is India. In the 2025 fiscal year, Suzuki sold 3.32 million vehicles worldwide, and 1.86 million of them were delivered in India alone. That means more than half of Suzuki’s global volume came from one market, showing just how important India has become to the brand.
Suzuki’s global sales rose by 2.4 percent last fiscal year, and the company expects even stronger results this year. For the 2026 fiscal year, Suzuki is forecasting a 7.1 percent increase, which would bring total sales to 3.55 million vehicles.
Honda is still ahead for now. It sold 3.38 million vehicles in the previous fiscal year, even after an 8.9 percent drop. But Honda expects sales to stay almost flat this year at 3.39 million vehicles. If both companies hit their targets, Suzuki would move ahead with a clear lead.
That would put Suzuki behind only Toyota among Japanese carmakers. Toyota, together with Lexus, remains in a league of its own with expected sales of 10.5 million vehicles, while Nissan is projected to sit in fourth place with around 3.3 million units.
Suzuki says it is not chasing second place just for the sake of the ranking. Company president Toshihiro Suzuki said the real goal is to build cars people want and to keep strengthening markets like India through healthy competition.
Toyota also has a role in Suzuki’s story, as it owns nearly five percent of the company. The two brands already work together in several markets, including Europe, where the Suzuki Across is essentially a Toyota RAV4 with a Suzuki badge.
Still, sales numbers are only one part of the picture. Profit margins, product strategy, and long-term planning matter just as much. But even with that in mind, Suzuki potentially moving ahead of Honda would be a remarkable shift.
For many enthusiasts, the bigger question is why Suzuki still has no plans to return to the United States. With interest in off-road vehicles still strong, something like the five-door Jimny could have real appeal. But bringing Suzuki back would mean rebuilding a dealer network and making sure its vehicles meet American safety rules, which makes a comeback far more complicated than it sounds.
