Suzuki Reports 28 Percent Sales Growth; Grand Vitara Sales Growing Rapidly

6 January 1999

Suzuki Reports 28 Percent Sales Growth; Grand Vitara Sales Growing Rapidly

    BREA, Calif.--(AutomotiveWire)--Jan. 5, 1999--Early sales reports from Suzuki show a dramatic 28 percent increase in sales over last year.
    The Grand Vitara, the new V6 mini SUV, has done particularly well, selling 5,909 units since its introduction in August of 1998.
    "Two years ago, our parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation announced an ambitious goal of establishing a stronger presence in the U.S. market and increasing U.S. sales to 100,000 vehicles," stated Gary Anderson, vice president of sales and marketing. "With exciting and successful new vehicles such as the Grand Vitara and Vitara line, we look forward to achieving that goal."
    Overall, Suzuki sold 37,607 vehicles in 1998, a 28 percent increase over sales in 1997 of 29,283 vehicles. Suzuki product lines available in the United States include the Esteem Wagon, the Esteem Sedan and the V-6 Grand Vitara, Suzuki's new, powerful, mini SUV. Suzuki will also add to its line-up the four-door and two-door Vitaras.
    "We are pleased by the level of success realized by the Grand Vitara in its short history," stated Anderson. "Our strategy at Suzuki has been straight forward -- develop unique products that fill a need, while meeting or surpassing the quality and value offered by the competition. The Grand Vitara meets that criteria, and has raised the standard of the mini sport utility category to a new level of refinement, comfort, convenience and performance." Suzuki is forecasting the sale of an additional 5,500 Grand Vitaras by March of 1999.
    A recent survey of Grand Vitara owners by Allison-Fisher Inc., nationally recognized experts in automotive research and consulting, revealed high levels of customer satisfaction. Fully 97 percent of Grand Vitara owners stated they would recommend the vehicle to others.
    "The Grand Vitara has played a valuable role in enhancing Suzuki's brand image in the United States, and has succeeded in attracting an entirely new generation of consumers to Suzuki," noted Lore McKenna, national advertising manager. According to the Allison-Fisher study, over 76 percent of Grand Vitara buyers had never before purchased a Suzuki vehicle.
    In December 1998 and January 1999, Suzuki will introduce the new four-door and two-door Vitaras, extending the line and providing consumers with additional choices to meet their lifestyle needs. Setting themselves apart from the competition, both the four-door and two-door models are generously equipped with a long list of standard safety, comfort, and convenience features. Both will be available in four-wheel and two-wheel drive. Suzuki has forecast total Vitara sales by the end of March 1999 to top 11,000.

    The Automotive Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), headquartered in Brea, Calif., was founded in 1985 by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC). ASMC markets automobiles in the United States through a network of 300 automotive dealerships in 49 states.
    ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide automobile manufacturer. Founded in 1920, SMC has 135 distributors in 171 countries.