American Suzuki Ends Year With Six Percent Sales Increase

BREA, Calif., Jan. 3 -- American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) ended 2001 notching a six-percent increase over its 2000 sales, posting 64,698 sales for the calendar year, and continuing as one of the fastest growing Japanese car companies in the U.S.

``American Suzuki had a banner year largely because of great consumer response to our new-for-2001 XL-7 SUV. Our XL-7 has proven to be a smart choice for many value-minded buyers when they discover they can buy a seven-passenger SUV with a long list of standard features for an affordable price,'' said American Suzuki Motor Corporation President Rick Suzuki. ``The XL-7, the largest and most luxurious vehicle Suzuki had ever introduced, went on sale in December 2000 and posted sales of 25,096 in 2001.

The Grand Vitara notched 16,030 sales and the Esteem Sedan and Wagon sales remained robust in 2001, posting 13,061 vehicles sold in the year. Vitara finished the year with 7,947 vehicles sold.

Sales for American Suzuki have steadily grown over the last five years, and this year ASMC more than doubled its sales levels it had established in 1997 (29,283 units). Suzuki has grown in the U.S. market at the fastest speed among Japanese car companies in the past five years and is the only company to double its sales from 1997 to 2001.

Rick Suzuki explains, ``We've brought out several great new vehicles in the last few years which have extended our product line. We're especially excited about the newest Suzuki for the U.S. market, the Aerio, which will be debuting at the auto show in Detroit later this week. With great products like these new sedan and sport crossover models, we expect to continue our growth.''

The Automotive Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1985 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets automobiles in the United States through a network of more than 430 automotive dealerships in 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide automobile manufacturer. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it is based in Hamamatsu, Japan, and has 120 distributors in 191 countries.

                      AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
                             MONTH END REPORTING

                               December                       CYTD

                          2001       2000   DSR %     2001     2000   DSR %
                                          Change                     Change

      SIDEKICK:            3          1    200%        3         1     200%
      SIDEKICK IMP:        0          0      NA        8        10     -20%
      SPORT:               0          0      NA        6        78     -92%
      X-90:                0          0      NA        0         3    -100%
      VITARA:            413        474    -13%    7,947     9,015     -12%
      GRAND VITARA:      624      2,051    -70%   16,030    30,751     -48%
      XL-7:            2,020        731    176%   25,096       731    3333%
      SWIFT:              71        156    -54%    2,547     3,379     -25%
      ESTEEM:            786        926    -15%   13,061    16,877     -23%
      TOTAL:           3,917      4,339    -10%   64,698    60,845       6%

     TRUCK
      DOMESTIC TRUCK:    416        475    -12%    7,950     9,016     -12%
      IMPORT TRUCK:    2,644      2,051     29%   41,140    30,842      33%
      TOTAL TRUCK:     3,060      2,526     21%   49,090    39,858      23%

     CAR
      DOMESTIC CAR:       71        156    -54%    2,547     3,379     -25%
      IMPORT CAR:        786        926    -15%   13,061    16,877     -23%
      TOTAL CAR:         857      1,082    -21%   15,608    20,256     -23%

      TOTAL DOMESTIC:    487        631    -23%   10,497    12,395     -15%

      TOTAL IMPORT:    3,430      2,977     15%   54,201    47,719      14%

      GRAND TOTAL      3,917      3,608      9%   64,698    60,114       8%

      Selling Days:       25         25              307       307