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American Suzuki Automotive Sales Up 22% for First Half of 2000

6 July 2000

Strong June Sales Contribute to Year-to-date Increase

    BREA, Calif. - Bucking the downward June sales of the U.S. Big Three 
automotive manufacturers, American Suzuki Motor Corporation Automotive Division 
posted a 22-percent sales increase last month over June 1999 sales, selling 
6,045 units.  Strong June sales contributed to a 37% increase for the first 
half of 2000, totaling 31,516 units.

    The Grand Vitara continued to sell well, posting 2,455 sales, an
18-percent increase over June 1999.  The Vitara, Esteem Sedan and Wagon, and
Swift also posted increases for the month and calendar year-to-date.

    "High gas prices are making Suzukis an even better buy for new car and SUV
buyers," said American Suzuki Automotive Vice President of Sales Gary
Anderson.  "We've always offered great value in each of our models, and with
skyrocketing gasoline prices around the U.S. our increased sales show that
more Americans know where to buy both stylish and fuel efficient vehicles."

    Suzuki Motor Corporation founded the Automotive Division of American
Suzuki Motor Corporation, located in Brea, California, in 1985.  American
Suzuki Motor Corp. markets automobiles in the United States through a network
of more than 367 dealerships in 49 states.

    American Suzuki's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corp., based in Hamamatsu,
Japan, is a diversified worldwide automobile manufacturer.  Incorporated in
1920, Suzuki Motor Corp. has 134 distributors in 175 countries.