Global News

3 August 2009

Suzuki’s worldwide automobile sales top 40 million units

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s worldwide automobile sales topped 40 million units in June 2009. Aggregate sales stood at 19,666 thousand units in Japan (of which 18,282 thousand units were minivehicles and 1,384 thousand units were full-size vehicles) and 20,355 thousand units outside Japan.

Domestic sales

Suzuki’s automobile sales in Japan began in October 1955 with a minivehicle called the Suzulight. Since then, Suzuki has remained at the forefront of Japan’s expanding minivehicle market by reflecting customers’ priorities in models such as the Fronte, Carry, Jimny, Cervo, Alto, Wagon R, Every, Kei, MR Wagon, Alto Lapin, and Palette.

Full-size Suzuki vehicles first went on the market in Japan in 1965. Notable models since then include the Fronte 800, Jimny 1000, Cultus, Escudo, Wagon R+, Every+, Wagon R Solio, Grand Escudo, Aerio, Chevrolet Cruze, Swift, SX4, and Splash.

Overseas sales

Suzuki launched its overseas automobile sales in 1959 with the start of exports of the Suzulight Carry. Having continually expanded its overseas production bases over the years, Suzuki now builds automobiles for overseas sale not only at three domestic plants (Kosai, Iwata, and Sagara) but also at 15 plants in 14 other countries and regions including India, Hungary, and Indonesia.

Models currently built in Japan for overseas sale include the Swift, SX4, Wagon R+, Jimny, GRAND VITARA, and Carry. Models currently built overseas include the Indian-produced Maruti 800, Alto, and A-star and the Hungarian-produced Splash, all of which are ideally matched to local market needs.