Kia's Exports From India Trail Hyundai's as Both Expand Capacity
Kia says its second plant will also serve overseas markets. Hyundai exported 1,90,125 vehicles last financial year, while Kia's share was under 9% in 2025.
Kia says its second Indian factory will help it serve overseas buyers as well as Indian ones, but its exports from India remain a small fraction of what sister company Hyundai ships. Kia's last published export total is 25,279 vehicles for January to November 2025, under 9% of what it dispatched.
Hyundai exported 1,90,125 vehicles in its financial year ended March 2026, about a quarter of its 7,75,031 total sales. Its export count includes kits sent abroad for local assembly.
| Carmaker | Period | Exports | Sold in India | Export share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | April 2025 to March 2026 | 1,90,125 | 5,84,906 | 24.5% |
| Hyundai | July to September 2026 | 53,300 | 1,65,772 | 24.3% |
| Kia | January to November 2025 | 25,279 | 2,61,627 | 8.8% |
Kia's Monthly Shipments
Kia's 2025 releases gave exports for some months. It shipped 2,590 vehicles abroad in July, 2,606 in September and 3,004 in November.
Kia said in January that it had exported more than 1,00,000 units of Kia's Sonet SUV. They went to nearly 70 markets, among them the Middle East and Africa, Central and South America, Mexico and the Asia Pacific region. Kia's monthly sales releases for 2026 have not reported exports for any month.
Hyundai's Exports Are Growing
Hyundai's exports rose 16.4% that year, after two years at about 1,63,000. It shipped 92,008 vehicles abroad from April to September 2026, the first half of its current financial year.
Hyundai Motor Group wants India to become one of its leading export bases. It said so on 13 October, when it committed $15.5 billion to India from 2026 to 2032, including more production capacity at both Hyundai and Kia.
No Export Target Yet
Kia's first plant is rated at 4,30,000 vehicles a year, and its second factory at Anantapur will add 2,00,000 from early 2030. Kia's statement on the new plant sets no export target and names no overseas markets.