American Suzuki Motor Corporation Realigns Organizational Structure To Accommodate Five-Year Growth Plans

BREA, Calif., Jan. 5, 2004 -- American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) has realigned the organizational structure of its headquarters in Brea, Calif. to facilitate a five-year growth plan aimed at tripling Suzuki's U.S. auto business by 2007.

The realignment, effective January 1, 2004, decentralizes and strengthens certain elements of Suzuki's U.S. operations in order to offer the level of support, resources, independence and flexibility necessary to meet the most aggressive U.S. growth goals in company history and accelerate the company's dealer-development efforts to attain 600 dealers by 2005.

In March 2003, ASMC unveiled a five-year plan to triple its automotive sales to 200,000 vehicles by 2007. Two new models -- the Verona midsize sedan and Forenza premium compact sedan -- debuted last year and were met by very favorable industry and public response.

Three Distinct Operational Units

Under the new structure, ASMC is split into three distinct operational units -- Automotive, Motorcycle/Marine, and Corporate Operations. President Rick Suzuki will become president of Corporate Operations, which will work across all operations to support the needs of ASMC's two product business units. Koichi Suzuki, assistant to Rick for five years and instrumental in the rollout of ASMC's five-year growth plan, will assume the role of president of Automotive Operations.

Mac Kato, assistant to Rick for two years on the motorcycle/ATV side, becomes president of Motorcycle/Marine Operations. All three ASMC presidents will report to ASMC Chairman Sokichi Nakano and Vice Chairmen Hirotaka Ono and Motoo Murakami, who are based in Japan.

Strengthened Dealer Development

As part of the realignment and increased focus on decentralized operations, ASMC will strengthen its field organization to allow for more frequent interaction, communication and relationships with the Suzuki dealer body. Key to this process is the integration of sales, service and parts functions under one leadership umbrella.

In addition, as an outgrowth of its strategic alliance with GM, (which includes a joint investment in GMDAT, and retail finance service through NUVELL, a 100 percent subsidiary of GMAC), ASMC will begin working directly with a senior-level dealer-development consultant to help grow the Suzuki dealer network. Retired GM executive and dealer-development expert Ron Sobrero will bring 42 years of GM experience to his new role as ASMC vice president of dealer development.

"When combined with Suzuki Square, our system-wide retail image program initiated last year, this increase in vital resources for new dealer-recruitment efforts will result in a reinforced and committed dealer body better able to meet the increasing demand for our growing line of value-packed cars and SUVs," explained Koichi Suzuki, president of Automotive Operations, American Suzuki.

About American Suzuki

The Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Brea, Calif., was founded in 1985 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets automobiles in the United States through a network of 470 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 has 141 distributors in 127 countries.