• Suzuki seks to boost African sales by leveraging its India hub and a new pact with MOL and TradeWaltz on greener logistics.
• Suzuki sold 109,000 vehicles in Africa in FY2024, up 12%, with 63,000 in South Africa and rising demand from ride-hailing fleets.
• India-built Suzuki exports to Africa totaled 144,000 vehicles, while Africa is only around 1% of India’s 2023–24 passenger car exports.

On the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Suzuki signed an agreement in principle with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (described as the world’s sixth-largest shipping group) and TradeWaltz Inc., a Japanese startup operating a blockchain-based trade platform. The three partners will study the challenges of shipping vehicles from India to Africa, identify digital solutions, and minimize the carbon footprint of those exports.

The initiative aligns with the Japan-India Cooperation Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa, which encourages Japanese companies to concentrate production in India to benefit from lower costs and, in turn, reduce the cost of supplying African markets.

For Suzuki, the stakes are significant. While it still trails compatriot Toyota in brand strength across the continentand an increasingly aggressive push from Chinese marques, volumes are rising. In its 2024 fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2025, the company reported 109,000 vehicles sold in Africa, up 12%. Africa is also the largest destination for exports from Suzuki’s India hub, totaling 144,000 vehicles.

Direct sales are concentrated in South Africa, which absorbed 63,000 vehicles in FY2024. Demand for India-built Suzukis is also growing across Sub-Saharan Africa, helped by the expansion of ride-hailing fleets. In markets such as Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, operators for apps like Yango and Uber rely heavily on these models. 

More broadly, India is stepping up vehicle shipments to Africa. Analysts say higher U.S. tariffs introduced during the Trump administration pushed manufacturers to seek new outlets, with Africa viewed as a promising and geographically close market. Even as volumes climb, Africa’s share remains small—around 1% of a reported 5.2 million passenger vehicles in 2023–24—leaving ample room for growth, with Japan signaling it is ready to help accelerate the shift.

Idriss Linge