Autoblog

Here's some fun facts for a Friday afternoon: from 1989 through 1999 Suzuki couldn't muster even 50,000 in annual sales in the U.S. and through July of this year it's at nearly 65,000. Lots of things had do to go right for Suzuki to enjoy the kind of success it's having, not the least of which is the mass exodus the market has seen from traditional large SUVs to smaller, less thirsty ones. The company also chose to up its ad budget at the right time raising the dollars it spends on advertising from $77 million in 2004 to $107 million in 2005. (Note – we've seen a few Suzuki ads on these pages before, so we're guessing some of that money went to Weblogs, Inc.).

Now it seems that 100,000 in annual sales is attainable for the first time in the company's history of selling vehicles in the U.S. In addition to the success of the newly redesigned Grand Vitara (sales are up over 500% compared to last year), the larger XL-7 is set to land here soon and the new entry-level SX-4 is right around the corner. Even the aged Forenza, which is the brand's volume seller, is up 27% over last year. The only thing needed to keep Suzuki above the century mark in sales is a Swift kick in the pants.

[Source: AdAge via Straightline Blog]

2010 is going to landmark year for automakers. General Motors plans to roll out its first commercial fuel cell vehicles by decade's end, while Chrysler may debut the Imperial. Hyundai plans to be one of the world's top five automakers by then, though its current leadership shake up may temporarily send it roadside.

Suzuki is now joining the 2010 club with the ambitious goal of tripling its sales by that time. Quarter sales this year were three times that of  2005. which already was a record year for the small automaker, mostly by dint of its rapidly expanding lineup. According to Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki Motor Corp., the company feels Americans are more receptive to its products, especially its small, fuel efficient vehicles. Suzuki not only plans to increase its product lineup (pictured is the XL-7), but upgrading current dealerships while simultaneously adding new ones. Over 300 Suzuki dealerships will be fully renovated and 60 new ones will opened by the end of 2006.

Related: Suzuki to close Chevrolet shop in Japan
Suzuki stepping out
Suzuki shares on the upswing after GM stock dumpage


[Source: The Buffalo News]