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Record Sales for Suzuki as Company Records Half Year Profit

09 Nov, 2009

Suzuki has begun the last quarter of 2009 in record numbers, selling 2,091 vehicles nationally to better its previous October record set in 2008 by 2.5 per cent.

According to VFACTS figures released today, the Japanese brand was one of only a handful of main manufacturers to increase its monthly sales compared to the same month last year.

Year-to-date Suzuki has sold 16,692 vehicles across its passenger, light commercial and four-wheel drive model range.

Suzuki’s award-winning compact SUV led the charge with Grand Vitara sales up 55 per cent on the same month last year. A record total of 544 vehicles left the showroom floor to push its year-to-date figure to 3,465. This represents a 9.1 per cent growth on 2008 in a segment that is down almost 7 per cent.

Strong interest in the limited edition Swift RE4 model boosted Swift sales to 1,113; just nine units short of the October 2008 result. The Swift remains one of Australia’s most popular light cars with customers of all ages opting for its Japanese quality, stylish design and excellent value for money proposition.

Meanwhile the newly introduced Suzuki Alto – Australia’s first sub-light vehicle – continues to offer choice for the environmentally and budget-conscious buyer on the back of its record 2.0L/100km fuel economy achieved on the city leg of the 2009 Global Green Challenge.

In November Alto buyers can get behind the wheel for just $12,990 drive away for the GL model and $14,490 drive away for the high specification GLX variant, through a campaign initiated by the Suzuki Australia dealer network*.

Suzuki performed strongly in most states. Sales were well up in Western Australia and South Australia, while Victorian Suzuki dealers put in an impressive performance with a 50 per cent increase over the 2008 figure.

Globally it was a similar state of affairs with the key markets of Europe and Asia both maintaining strong sales results. In India sales rose 21 per cent in the month of October for a total of 71,551 vehicles.

Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest car maker with more than 55 per cent market share in one of the world’s fastest growing automotive markets.

Last month Maruti Suzuki topped the list in the J D Power survey for customer service satisfaction for the tenth consecutive year.

The Suzuki operations were ranked number one with a total score of 824 (on a scale of 1,000 points) ahead of Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Ford.

The study measured overall satisfaction by examining five key factors - service quality, vehicle pickup, service advisor, service facility and service initiation – and mimics the J D Power sales satisfaction survey announced earlier in 2009 where Suzuki once again outranked all competitors with an industry leading score of 800 points.

The accolade comes at the same time as Suzuki Motor Corporation recorded a first half year profit for the 2009 fiscal year (April – Sept). The result saw the company remain in the black despite the effects of the world economy on the car manufacturing business.

Suzuki sales revenue equated to 1.18 trillion yen (AUD 14.2 billion), down 31 per cent on the April to September 2008 figure. Despite a slight decline in sales this fiscal year, Suzuki managed a surplus of 31.8 billion yen operating profit (AUD 403 million) and a 12.5 billion yen profit (AUD 158 million) by holding down business investments and cost reductions across the board.

Based on this result, SMC has increased its forecast for the full fiscal year to 40 billion yen (up from 10 billion yen) in operating profit and 15 billion yen (up from 5 billion yen) net profit.


State October 2009 October 2008 % +/-

SUZUKI AUSTRALIA WA 267 238 +12.2

ACT 20 26 -23.1

NSW 591 630 -6.2

NT 23 24 -4.2

SA 197 154 +27.9

TAS 31 51 -39.2

VIC 573 380 +50.8

QLD 389 589 -27.8

TOTAL 2,091 2,042 +2.4

* Product, pricing and sale information issued by Suzuki Australia Pty Ltd may not be applicable in the state of Queensland or Northern New South Wales.