News Release

Suzuki Swift Tops New Zealand Small Car Market for Fourth Successive Year

13 January 2010
The evergreen Suzuki Swift has continued its drive at the top of the New Zealand small car market. 

For the fourth successive year the Swift was the top selling super-mini car in 2009, according to official Motor Industry Association figures. 

The fifth generation Swift was also third best selling new car model in  New Zealand, repeating its performance of the previous two years. 

Swift’s 2009 sales were 57 per cent higher than the second placed small  super-mini car as an increasing number of New Zealanders took a shine to the highly successful Suzuki model. 

“On two separate months the Swift was best overall seller, a first for a small car,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand Limited. 

“Suzuki has been celebrating 100 years of innovation and appropriately the Swift is exhibiting its long-term popularity. This car was a hit for us, right from the introduction in 2005 and has been a confirmed favourite ever since,” he said.

“Without question, the enduring success of the Swift makes it a landmark model for Suzuki, and one of the most significant compact cars marketed in New Zealand for years.” 

In other markets the Swift has also continued on its winning way. The model accounted for 56.9 per cent of Suzuki car sales in Australia last year, mirroring the popularity of the car in New Zealand. 

Suzuki set record sales in Australia in December, and sold 20,298 new cars for the year, with volume above target. Grand Vitara sales across the Tasman were up 8.4 per cent to a record level. 

“This is a terrific result for Suzuki in such challenging times, particularly given that we have only added one vehicle to our line-up, mid-way through 2009, the all-new Alto,” said Tony Devers, Suzuki Australia’s General Manager. 

Devers attributed the result to Suzuki’s product range which continues to offer style, safety, reliability and excellent value for money in one affordable package. 

In Britain, Suzuki new car sales increased by 9.37 per cent in 2009, despite total industry volume being down by 6.4 per cent.

Several variants of the Swift five-door hatchback are available in New Zealand, with prices starting from $18,500 for the 1.5-litre XE model. 

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