News Release
Twenty Millionth Milestone for Expanding Suzuki
23 February 2010
Domestic sales of new Suzuki cars in Japan have topped 20 million units in the wake of record demand for the marque in world markets.
World-wide in 2009 Suzuki made well over twice as many motor vehicles as Mazda and three times as many cars as Mitsubishi.
At the same time, Suzuki suffered far less than other motor manufacturers as a result of the widespread economic slump.
In Japan Suzuki was second only to Toyota in car production last year, beating Nissan, Honda and Mazda. It also produced more than twice as many cars as Mitsubishi and Subaru and had the lowest percentage production decline of any Japanese motor vehicle manufacturer.
“Suzuki made 2.38 million cars in 2009 which makes it a significant brand in world terms,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand. Suzuki has produced more than 40 million cars since the make’s first passenger model, the Suzulight, launched in October 1955.
With its front-wheel-drive, four wheel independent suspension and rack and pinion steering, the Suzulight was an engineering pioneer in the Japanese motor industry.
This diminutive, 360 cc, two-stroke-engined baby car was a precursor to the small car expertise for which Suzuki would become famous.
Debut versions of the ubiquitous little four-wheel-drive Jimny in 1970 and the Alto in 1979 went on to become Suzuki icons as did the current generation Swift that won the title of Suzuki’s best selling car in New Zealand and the country’s top super-mini model.
The practical and thrifty Alto hatchback formed the foundation for Suzuki’s success in Japan and went on to attract wide international appeal.
More than ten million Altos have been sold, including 4.8 million in Japan. There are four million Altos in daily use on Indian roads.
Suzuki operates in 193 global markets and its widening popularity is reflected in New Zealand where the brand is selling more new cars than ever.
Between 2004 and 2008, sales of new Suzuki cars trebled in New Zealand with record demand in each successive year.
Because of the current global economic climate, there was a slight decrease in world sales of Suzuki in 2009. This was the first time in eleven years that the make had not increased sales.
Global production reached 2,387,533 units last year, including 624,723 mini-size cars in Japan. Strong demand gave Suzuki 32.7 per cent of that significant class of motor vehicles.
Suzuki has been widening its international umbrella, evidenced by the shift in manufacturing sourcing. In 2009 Suzuki produced a record 1,479,231 vehicles outside Japan, a 5.3 per cent increase on the previous year.
This was considered remarkable in an environment where sales of all motor vehicles fell rather than rose.
It was also the first time Suzuki had produced more motor vehicles outside Japan, with the majority made by Maruti Suzuki in India.
More than one million of the current model Swift have been sold, and this model is now built in seven countries - Japan, Hungary, India, China, Indonesia, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Suzuki was founded as a textile loom company in 1909 by Michio Suzuki, and diversified into motorcycle manufacturing in 1952 with the 36 cc, two-stroke Power Free motorcycle.
The company went on to become one of the world’s leading motorcycle makers, and in 1965 commenced outboard motor production followed by ATV/all terrain motorcycles in 1982.
By 1989 Suzuki had made ten million cars, and little more than a decade later annual production was exceeding one million units. The two million annual barrier was broken in 2005.
European car sales began for the Japanese company in 1968, attracting more than 4.5 million sales since then.
Sales of the Grand Vitara have topped 2.6 million and the model’s predecessor, the Vitara, pioneered the compact Sport Utility Vehicle class in 1988.
Suzuki is further developing its compact car expertise with small and flexible engines with even lower emissions and better fuel economy.
At the same time the company is reinforcing a reputation for customer focussed and value products that are fun to drive and inexpensive to own.
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