Suzuki off to a sizzling start

The 132 Suzuki Swift and 98 Suzuki SX4 vehicles were sold through Suzuki Auto SA's national network

Suzuki's head of sales and marketing, Charl Timms, said they were particularly pleased with the product's wide acceptance, particularly when one considers the depressed state of the new vehicle market.

“According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa), June sales of passenger cars and SUVs were down 24,9%, compared to the same month last year. The overall market declined by 21,9% compared to 2007 levels.”

Against that backdrop, he adds, the take-up of Suzuki's new model offerings is heartening. “In fact, Swift and SX4 sales represent the single best monthly sales figure ever for Suzuki automotive products in SA.”

The previous best result was some 13 years ago, back in March 1995, when 81 Suzuki Samurai and Vitara models were retailed by the then Delta Motor Corporation.

Timms said the SX4 and Swift had outsold a number of established contenders in its market segments which underlined the strong appeal if the Suzuki brand.

“It's also important to consider that our dealer network only actively traded for the last three weeks of June, yet still managed to record a solid first month sales figure. We are confident that interest in and demand for Suzuki's growing range of cars and SUVs will increase in the months ahead.”

Suzuki says it expects sales to increase significantly in September with the local introduction of the latest-generation Grand Vitara SUV and the universally popular Jimny 4x4.