Suzuki SA keeps breaking sales record targets
In June 2008, Suzuki started selling cars in SA.
That month it sold 230 units and in its first year it recorded overall sales of 2 819 units.
In October 2020, the company sold 2 032 vehicles in one month, officially breaking through the 2 000 unit barrier, setting a new overall sales record and firmly establishing itself as a top six vehicle brand in SA.
Of this record number, 1 408 passenger and light commercial vehicles were sold by Suzuki dealers, while 621 units were sold to fleet buyers by head office.
Suzuki’s sales success was made public by Naamsa, who last week reported the overall vehicle sales for October and for the year to date.
Naamsa reports that overall the industry remains well below its 2019 year-to-date figure (450 258 sales in 2019 compared with 303 997 in 2020), and that all but a few highly popular brands are struggling to return to their pre-lockdown performances.
For Suzuki, Naamsa recorded 731 sales of the Suzuki Swift, a stellar performance for the compact hatch, and 426 sales of the S-Presso.
Following in third and fourth are the Suzuki Celerio with 147 sales and the Ertiga, which recorded 127 units sold last month.
Suzuki says the Swift remains a global bestseller thanks to its compact design and engaging driving dynamics, while the S-Presso, in turn, could not have come at a better time.
‘It is important to note that Suzuki’s growth was not achieved overnight,’ said Andre Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto SA.
‘Over the past 12 years we have steadily invested in our corporate capacity, our product range, our local parts storage and distribution network and, of course, our dealer network,’ said Venter.
‘By laying the foundations and working hard to introduce the right products into the SA market, we have been able to grow our market share steadily and consistently.’
Venter notes that Suzuki will soon open its 70th dealer, with several additional dealers under consideration for various towns and outlying areas.