Suzuki Brand

Very good vehicles from the littlest 4x4 to motor cycles I have not been able to break one of them.
 
My personal opinion on the SX4 issue is due to the lack of diesel as an option, and also that 1.6L motor, where previous models had 2L lumps. I was looking into buying one a couple years back but I wasn't prepared to settle for a 1.6L (and somehow at the time I managed to not see that there were 2L models available).

On another note, I do own a GSX-R1000 though and wouldn't trade it for the world.
 
10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Suzuki

Last year, Suzuki Automotive South Africa broke its monthly sales record no fewer than three times.

In the end, the company completed the year with a whopping 57% increase in sales, moving from 5 628 units in 2016 to 8 847 units in 2017, resulting in its market share increasing from 0,9% to 1,6%.

Over in India, however, the Suzuki brand is even more popular, and is this year heading for an astonishing 50% market share.

During a recent trip to India, we drove the new Suzuki Swift (the driving impression will be published only in March due to an embargo) and visited its facilities to experience and hear about the company’s successes and plans.

So, here are a few interesting facts about the Japanese automaker that you might not have known…

1. The very first Indian-built Suzuki rolled off the production line in December 1983 after the automaker signed a deal with the government.
2. Suzuki currently runs three manufacturing plants in India.
3. In 2005, Suzuki’s three plants in India hit 500 000 production units. This year, the company is aiming for around two million units.
4. The Indian facilities include the brand’s largest R&D centre and proving ground outside of Japan.
5. Almost 80% of Indian production is for the domestic market.
6. In 2017, Suzuki boasted 47% market share in India, with Hyundai next in line at 17%. Renault had 4% and Toyota and Honda each secured 5%.
7. n 2017, seven of the top 10 models sold in India wore Suzuki badges (the other three were the Hyundai Grand i10, Renault Kwid and Hyundai i20).
8. Suzuki’s only African plant is in Egypt.
9. Suzuki sales in Africa have incrementally increased from 53 689 in 2012 to 246 564 in 2016.
10. Suzuki is available across Africa in all but four countries.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-suzuki/
 
1954 Suzulight - Here's how Suzuki's first car was built

Back in 1954, Suzuki was formed and Michio Suzuki designed and developed his first Automobile together with his son-in-law Shunzo who headed up the young engineering team, many of whom were in their twenties.

'Let's do it'

Using Suzuki’s ‘Yaramaika’ principal (translated as ‘Let’s do it’) and his determination to drive forward, Shunzo quickly began researching vehicles produced overseas, gaining a wealth of knowledge to build the first Suzuki car, known as the Suzulight.

Shunzo Suzuki used several European models for benchmarking as well as an Austin 7 from the UK, a popular car of the era and available at a very reasonable cost. The Suzulight was a compact and light vehicle weighing less than 500kg, it was designed to be easy to drive and maintain as well as inexpensive to buy.

Powered by a 360cc, 16PS (11.7kW) two cylinder, two-stroke engine it was way ahead of its time with independent coil spring suspension and rack and pinion steering.

Measuring just 2.9 meters long, 1.295m wide and 1.4m high the Suzulight easily met the Japanese ‘Keijidosha’ or Kei light car legislation and Shunzo Suzuki and his team quickly began their first development road testing of it.

As a prototype car, its most memorable early drive was a long trip across the Hakone mountainous region between Hamamatsu and Tokyo which proved to be a real challenge as no paved roads existed at the time. Although arriving in Tokyo very late in the evening, the team arrived to present the car to the President of ‘Yanase’ or Government Automotive office. The President stayed on late to personally greet the team and made his way out to thoroughly test the car.

He returned very impressed some time later and immediately gave Shunzo and his team full approval to put the car into production. This commenced in October 1955 and Shunzo made his first two deliveries to doctors who used the small and lightweight car on their daily rounds. Initial production was 3-4 cars per month but by early 1956 monthly volume had climbed to 30 units. The Suzuki success story had begun and in 1957, Shunzo Suzuki became the 2nd President of Suzuki Motor Co, Limited.

It’s rumoured that only one or two of the original Suzulight cars exist now, one of which is in the Suzuki Plaza Museum in Hamamatsu City, Japan.

64 years later, Suzuki remains globally renowned as the ‘small car experts’ and produces over three million cars per year. Shunzo Suzuki’s original strategy of the design and production of lightweight vehicles lives on with the latest platforms introduced for Ignis, Swift and Baleno. The next light new model to arrive from Suzuki will be the Swift Sport in June 2018, weighing in at just 970kg.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Clas...eres-how-suzukis-first-car-was-built-20180131

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(Full article at link)

Suzuki's does simple best: Why its success is not a surprise

Ten years ago, you couldn’t buy a new Suzuki in South Africa. How has the Japanese brand, whose difficult relationship with Volkswagen ended as recently as 2015, managed to thrive and gain such a strong foothold (and good reputation) in the local market?

A lot can happen in a decade. 10 years ago, Tesla was a fringe brand, making battery-powered Lotus Elises and diesel-powered German cars were boundlessly popular in all global markets. In 2018, Tesla is the most valuable car company in the world by share price (with a car in space orbit) and the German diesel engine’s dominance, is all but over.

For South African car enthusiasts there’s a rather interesting story which also started ten years ago. In 2008 Suzuki automotive returned to the South African market after an absence of 9 years. Many people were excited because Suzuki had a deserved cult following amongst hardcore 4x4 enthusiasts, a reputation forged by its paradoxically giant-killing, yet diminutively sized, SJ-series of 4x4s. By 2008 the SJs we had come to know were 1980s relics and the contemporary evolution was something called a Jimny. Almost immediately demand overwhelmed supply.

Suzuki claimed its second Brand of the Year award at the 2017/2018 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards - powered by WesBank.

Suzuki re-launched into South Africa as the global economic crisis was triggered and to its credit, survived this unfortunate timing with uncommon ease. Since 2008 it has been an ascending brand without fanfare, imperceptibly conquering market share and winning public approval. At the 2018 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards — powered by WesBank gala event, Suzuki was recognised as South Africa’s favourite car brand by winning the coveted Brand of the Year award, for the second year in a row! It also won the budget car and compact family car categories with the Ignis and Vitara, for a second consecutive time in the case of the latter.

An uneventful strategy

How did Suzuki manage to become such a trusted brand to so many South Africans? They certainly didn’t accomplish it by the underhand tactic of initial discounting, followed by rampant price increases. If you analyse Suzuki’s marketing behaviour and sales tactics in South Africa, they haven’t done anything spectacularly different or unsettlingly innovative.

What the Hamamatsu-based company has done, is startlingly simple: offer durable products. None of the Suzukis which re-launched the brand in 2008 were remotely new products: Jimny, SX4, Vitara and Swift were all well-aged in their respective product cycles. Despite this, none were terrible to drive, and you never heard stories of them failing on a sweltering day in the Northern Cape, hundreds of kilometres from nowhere.

The Suzuki Jimny has a loyal fan base in South Africa and despite its size, its a capable off-roader.

A decade ago, Swift was a closer rival to Polo than most other Japanese hatchbacks. Jimny became a default choice for hip urbanites who actually used low-range bi-monthly and Grand Vitara, with dedicated off-road gearing, was by some margin the most technical terrain-capable compact SUV you could buy.

Suzuki’s vehicles were everything you would have imagined from a brand that has experienced – and absorbed – inputs from customers who are massively demanding of their 4x4s and spilt some of that engineering wisdom into the brand’s hatchbacks and sedans too.

In the decade that followed its reintroduction, Suzuki’s product portfolio has grown from four to ten models, all with excellent acceptance – illustrated by the record sales figures achieved last year. The only casualty between 2008 and 2018 has been SX4, which was discontinued last year due to Vitara cannibalising most of its market share. Even the perfect automotive family, occasionally has an internal issue…

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_new...best-why-its-success-is-not-a-surprise/44600/
 
Suzuki does it again: Breaks sales records for a cracker start to 2018

Suzuki looks set to repeat their feat from 2017, when it was crowned South Africa’s fastest growing automotive brand.

The maker of the popular Ignis, Swift, Celerio, Vitara and other compact vehicles recorded total sales of 1 179 in February, breaking its previous sales record of 1 046 units, which it set in November last year. Combined with January’s sales of 891 units, it is officially the brand’s best start to a year to date.

Suzuki’s sterling performance comes amidst a slowing overall vehicle market. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), a total of 46 347 vehicles were sold in the short month of February, which is 3.8% down on the same month last year.

94% jump

In contrast, Suzuki’s new record sales in February represent a jump of 94% compared to the same month last year, while its sales in January was up 81% on January 2017. In that month, 816 (69%) units sold were sold by dealers to private customers.

André Venter, divisional manager of sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa, says: “This year we will celebrate our first decade in South Africa, and it seems that the significant investment in our product line-up, vehicle pricing, dealer network and training has come to a head in the past two years to deliver four record sales months and the best growth of any established brand.”

Venter says that the dealer network deserves much of the credit for this achievement, as it has contributed to the very strong brand affinity among owners and non-owners alike.

“Our dealer network has worked very hard to foster one of the most loyal groups of owners that any brand could wish for. We look forward to expanding that network in 2018 and will soon open the doors to new dealerships in Lephalale, Piet Retief and Amanzimtoti, extending our reach in smaller and outlying regions,” says Venter.

Suzuki expects its sales performance to continue in March, the last month that it will offer its extended mechanical warranty of five years or 200 000 km as a free addition to every new vehicle sold.

Top selling Suzuki models:

Swift: 493 units

Ignis: 213 units

Celerio: 137 units

Baleno: 134 units

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/SA_v...-records-for-a-cracker-start-to-2018-20180302
 
Suzuki Auto SA shatters its sales record … yet again

Suzuki Auto South Africa sold a total of 1 179 units in February 2018, smashing its previous sales record of 1 046 units from November 2017.

Interestingly, Suzuki’s sales figure in February represents a leap of 94% compared to the same month in 2017.

The Japanese brand’s top-seller was again the outgoing Swift, with 493 units registered in February. The Ignis, too, impressed again, contributing 213 units, while the Celerio managed 137 and the Baleno 134.

The seemingly evergreen Jimny finished February on 92 units, while the Vitara managed 44, the Ertiga 42, the Ciaz 19 and the Grand Vitara just a couple. In the light commercial segment, Suzuki registered on Gypsy and two examples of its Super Carry.

“Our dealer network has worked very hard to foster one of the most loyal groups of owners that any brand could wish for. We look forward to expanding that network in 2018 and will soon open the doors to new dealerships in Lephalale, Piet Retief and Amanzimtoti, extending our reach in smaller and outlying regions,” said André Venter, divisional manager of sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto SA.

Suzuki said that it expected its sales performance to continue in March, the final month that it will offer its extended mechanical warranty of five years or 200 000 km as a free addition to every new vehicle sold.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/suzuki-auto-sa-shatters-its-sales-record-yet-again/
 
Suzuki's Brand of the Year milestone

By being named the 2017/18 Brand of the Year in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank, Suzuki Auto SA became the first company in the history of the awards to retain this prestigious award and the only brand to win the award more than once.

SPONSORED ARTICLE

“Unlike the other (category) awards, the Brand of the Year Award is chosen purely on questionnaire feedback from owners and fellow South Africans, which is a sure sign that our hard work done on our service levels, vehicle line-up and pricing is welcomed by the market,” says Yukio Sato, managing director at Suzuki Auto SA.

In choosing the Brand of the Year, Cars.co.za and market specialists Lightstone Auto polled over 12 000 consumers with an in-depth Ownership Satisfaction Survey. Of these, 7 500 were verified.

For the 13 vehicle categories, judges selected their finalists from a pool of eligible semi-finalists shortlisted by the experienced Cars.co.za test team. The 39 cars were then evaluated over 2 days by 18 judges at the Gerotek testing facility in Pretoria. The combined scores from the judges and the customer surveys decided the winners in the various vehicle categories.

In the Compact Family Car-category, Suzuki’s Vitara retained its crown, winning by the highest margin of any vehicle in any category. This is the second year that a derivative of the Vitara range was chosen as the Family Car-winner.

In the Budget Car-category, for vehicles priced at R175 000 or less, the Suzuki Ignis took over from its sibling, the Celerio, last year’s winner. In this category, fuel consumption, affordability and innovative design carry significant weight, and while getting high scores from judges, its score from owners was significantly higher than all the other scores and that assured it the Budget Car-crown.

This sets the scene for what could be another record year for the Japanese brand. With an expanding model line-up (including the introduction of the important new Swift later this year), and a growing dealership network, Suzuki remains a brand on the move in South Africa.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/suzukis-brand-of-the-year-milestone/44727/

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Suzuki celebrates first decade in SA with 10 000-units

Suzuki Auto South Africa is getting used to life in the four-figure club, after it recorded total sales of 1 012 units in March.

While not a new sales record – that still belongs to February 2018’s sales of 1 179 units – it is the highest sales month through the dealer channel for the Japanese brand. Suzuki sold 1 005 units through dealers in March, despite the many holidays.

10 years in SA

André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki, says: "While overall sales are an important criterion, we closely watch our dealer sales. To us, this is a barometer of our client relationships and of private buyers’ affinity for the Suzuki brand."

Suzuki’s spectacular start to the year has also helped the brand to notch up an internal record, selling over 10 000 units in one financial year. Suzuki ends its financial year in March – officially its tenth year in South Africa – and for this period, it retailed no less than 10 146 units.

"In this fiscal year, we broke our own sales records four times and welcomed many new customers to the fold. This was no doubt helped by the sales performance of new models such as the Vitara and our internationally acclaimed Ignis,” says Venter.

Interestingly, the Ignis outsold the highly popular Swift in March. The Ignis found 290 new owners to the Swift’s 279.

Suzuki’s sales performance outshone the rest of the industry, where sales increased by 1.1% for the month, but declined in the year to date. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa), total industry sales declined by 6 013 units or 4.1% in the first quarter of the year, whereas Suzuki’s sales in the same period increased by 62%.

To celebrate its sales performance, Suzuki has decided to skip another industry price increase. It did not raise prices in December / January, as is customary in the industry and in April it will only raise retail prices by the margin necessary to accommodate the change in Value Added Tax (VAT), ad valorem tax and exhaust emission taxes.

“We kick off the new financial year with a good product range and some very special new models on the horizon, such as the next generation Suzuki Swift. We will also expand our dealer network further and hope to welcome more customers into the Suzuki fold,” says Venter.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/SA_v...first-decade-in-sa-with-10-000-units-20180404
 
SUZUKI SA HITS SALES RECORD FOR LATEST FINANCIAL YEAR…

Suzuki Auto South Africa has made a bit of a habit of breaking its own sales record over the past few months, but now the local arm of the Japanese automaker has reported what it terms an “internal record”, selling more than 10 000 units in over the course of one financial year.

The brand ended its financial year in March, selling a record total of 10 146 units over the preceding 12 months.

In March 2018, the Suzuki Auto SA registered total sales of 1 012 units (not far off its monthly record of 1 179 units, achieved in February 2018). Interestingly, however, March proved to be the brand’s highest sales month through the dealer channel, with 1 005 units sold.

“While overall sales are an important criterion, we closely watch our dealer sales. To us, this is a barometer of our client relationships and of private buyers’ affinity for the Suzuki brand,” said André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto SA.

“In this fiscal year, we broke our own sales records four times and welcomed many new customers to the fold,” added Venter.

The Ignis led the way for the brand in March, with 290 units registered, while the outgoing Swift hatchback added 279. The evergreen Jimny managed 115 units, while the Baleno (90), Celerio (78), Vitara (69), Ertiga (53) and Ciaz (32) all contributed to the cause. The Grand Vitara, however, could muster just five units, reserving it a place on our worst-sellers list for the month.

While Suzuki Auto SA says it has “decided to skip another industry price increase”, it has raised retail prices “by the margin necessary to accommodate the change” in VAT, ad valorem tax and exhaust emission taxes that kicked in at the start of April 2018.

“We kick off the new financial year with a good product range and some very special new models on the horizon, such as the next-generation Suzuki Swift. We will also expand our dealer network further and hope to welcome more customers into the Suzuki fold,” added Venter.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/suzuki-sa-hits-sales-record-for-latest-financial-year/
 
Suzuki smashes its sales record in South Africa … yet again!

Suzuki Auto South Africa reported 1 237 registrations for the month of July 2018, representing a new sales record for the Japanese brand in SA.

The latest showing improves on Suzuki’s previous record of 1 179, achieved in February 2018, and comes after the automaker set a new highest sales total for its latest financial year.

The new Swift, which enjoyed its first full month on sale after launching in June 2018, led the way with 403 units, while the Ignis (208), new DZire (146) and refreshed Celerio (145) also contributed gamely. Suzuki says the Ignis has managed a total of 2 353 sales since its introduction in May 2017.

The Baleno added 96 units, while the Ertiga (59), outgoing Jimny (52) and Vitara (50) also featured. The Ciaz added 31 units and the Grand Vitara seven more (which incidentally sees it making our list of worst-sellers). In the light commercial space, Suzuki registered 38 Super Carry units along with a pair of Gypsy units.

“In the past twelve months, we have upgraded several models, such as the Celerio, and introduced new models such as the highly popular new Swift and Ignis and the new Dzire,” said André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing.

“At the same time, we have maintained prices as far as possible and kept our promotional five-year/200 000 km warranty on all passenger models – well beyond its scheduled end of December 2017,” he said, adding that growth in Suzuki’s local dealer network helped achieve the sales record.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/suzuki-smashes-its-sales-record-in-south-africa-yet-again/
 
SEE: Suzuki, Ignis, Celerio - Suzuki SA is having a good year so far in 2018

The Suzuki South Africa has had a stellar start to the 2018, breaking its own sales record from 2017. We look at its sales figures for the year so far.

Punching above its weight

The maker of the Ignis, Swift, Celerio, Vitara recorded 1179 total saless in February, breaking its previous sales record of 1046 units, which it set in November 2017. Combined with January’s sales of 891 units, 2018 officially marked the brand’s best start to a year to date.

In August 2017, the automaker first breached the 1000-unit mark, which made it the single biggest sales month for the Japanese brand in South Africa since 2008. Since then, the Japanese automaker has increased its presence with the launch of its new Swift and upcoming Jimny locally.

So far in 2018, Suzuki surpassed the 1000-unit per month goal four times this year, with the brand selling 1040 car in August 2018.

The Swift, Ignis and Celerio continue to be the brand's top volume sellers monthly.

https://www.wheels24.co.za/News/SA_...is-having-a-good-year-so-far-in-2018-20180910



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Suzuki Grand Vitara production ends … but badge ‘isn’t dead’

A fresh report out of Australia claims Suzuki has ended production of its ageing Grand Vitara, but adds the firm is working on an all-new model set to boast proper off-road ability and seven seats.

According the GoAuto.com, the next-generation Grand Vitara could be launched “inside the next two years”, slotting in above the Jimny and Vitara.

Michael Pachota, Suzuki Australia’s general manager for automobiles, told the publication that production of the Grand Vitara (which has been around in its current form since 2005) had actually ended as long ago as August 2018.

“Production of the last model ended in August last year. We bought enough cars into the country to last up until April, but I’d say there are less than 100 Grand Vitaras in dealers in Australia right now,” he said.

Still, Pachota hinted a replacement was in the pipeline.

“I can’t confirm it, but based on what I’ve heard I don’t think Grand Vitara is dead,” he said.

“I think there is an opportunity for that nameplate to come back. It’s just a matter of the right research and development on SMC’s [Suzuki Motor Corporation’s] part.

“They haven’t confirmed at all whether or not it’s coming; they’re keeping it very close to their chest. But we had the same experience with Jimny … and that car was five years in development before they released the vehicle to the public, so it takes some time to get the product right,” he explained.

The Grand Vitara is still listed on Suzuki Auto South Africa’s website (as well as the brand’s global site), offered in two forms: the 2,4i Dune for R391 900 and the 2,4i Summit AT for R485 900.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/suzuki-grand-vitara-production-ends-but-badge-isnt-dead/

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