Suzuki Sales Up 32 Percent, A New Record in April

[Ming]

Suzuki Sales Up 32 Percent – A New Record for April
2006/5/3

Grand Vitara and Forenza family lead Suzuki to best April in company history and second consecutive month with sales above 10,000 units



BREA, Calif. -- American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) announced sales of 10,669 units in April – an increase of 32 percent over April 2005 and the best April sales in company history. April is the second consecutive month in which Suzuki reported sales above 10,000 units. Year-to-date sales, which total 37,308 are up 38 percent. Suzuki’s monthly and quarterly records continue its recent sales momentum which included record sales of 82,101 in 2005 – the best sales year in American Suzuki’s 21-year history.

ASMC’s growth was led by the sales of its Grand Vitara, which sold 2,741 units, an impressive 493 percent increase over last year’s numbers. The top-selling Forenza family of vehicles also contributed to Suzuki’s record month, with 4,938 units sold in April – an 18 percent increase over 2005.

“Suzuki’s record-setting April, following the outstanding first quarter result, illustrates the company’s positive sales momentum and puts us on-track to sustain our growth during 2006,” said Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki’s Automotive Operations. “The increasing popularity of the 2006 Grand Vitara, the continuing sales strength of the Forenza models and the excitement surrounding the two new vehicles (all-new 2007 XL7 and all-new 2007 SX4) we introduced last month at the New York International Auto Show position American Suzuki for a successful campaign this year.”

Suzuki’s expanding product line in the United States includes the media-acclaimed 2006 Grand Vitara, the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon, the five-door Reno, the Aerio and Aerio SX, the Verona and the Suzuki XL-7, one of the most affordable seven-passenger SUVs sold in the United States.

Source: http://www.autospectator.com/modules...p?storyid=4054

[Ming]

Give Americans what they apparently want - affordable cars with long warranties (double the length of the average GM warranty), and watch those sales numbers spike.

Ironically, the growth engine for Suzuki, the GM Daewoo-sourced Forenza, makes me wonder how it would do in the US as a mainstream GM model, given the Aveo's success in dominating its segment. Of course at this point the Forenza is due for a replacement in a year or two anyway, so maybe GM can rework its contracts with Suzuki, GMDAT and the UAW and figure a way to get an inexpensive Chevy or Pontiac - maybe even the next gen Buick Excelle in the future.

[01cavalier]

Suzuki just keeps doing well, that's some great progress. I guess those GMDAT cars are the biggest reason for that.

[steve333]

They keep doing well even thought the Forenza and Reno get only mediocre reviews. They need the Swift over here.

[asim]

Hahaha...when GM sells shares of Suzuki their sales go higher.

[D C]

Whew. Good thing GM sold their shares before things took a turn for the worse.

[griswold44]

Funny, GM sells Suzuki & Subaru, yet keeps ailing Isuzu. Anyone else think the person who made that decision is on something?

[expyfan]

Originally Posted by asim

Hahaha...when GM sells shares of Suzuki their sales go higher.

I was just thinking the same thing while reading the article. I guess people trust Zuzuki more on its own than with GM in charge, LOL.

[SonicAerio]

Thanks for posting Ming - been wanting to but forgot

If you notice the Aerio also gained a respectable percentage...even though it's on it's way out the door, funny how a really good product that's marketed like the new GV brings buyers in to see other models they new nothing about

[K-1]

Originally Posted by griswold44

Funny, GM sells Suzuki & Subaru, yet keeps ailing Isuzu. Anyone else think the person who made that decision is on something?

Two words: Duramax diesel

[Joe in T.O.]

That is ironic. If GM waited a month, they would have gotten more cash.