Suzuki Takes Biggest-Ever Share of NZ Car Market

Suzuki Takes Biggest-Ever Share of New Zealand Car Market

Sales of new Suzuki cars in New Zealand reached record numbers in July as the brand achieved its highest ever market penetration.

Not only did Suzuki have its strongest month so far this year, but also the 496 new registrations were the largest since the franchise began selling cars here 35 years ago.

Suzuki took a record 7.54 percent of the new car market in July, placing the marque fourth overall and beaten only by Toyota, Holden and Ford.

For the first seven months of this year, Suzuki sold 2,503 new cars, according to official Motor Industry Association figures, and was the sixth best-selling make.

This gave Suzuki 5.77 percent of the total new car market, and compares with ninth ranking and a market share of 3.2 percent in 2006.

Strongly rising Suzuki sales have come at a time when the total new car market has increased by only 0.6 percent over the same period in 2006.

Suzuki’s top-selling Swift hatchback was the best-selling supermini in July with sales of 317 units, and second overall in the overall model stakes to the Holden Commodore. Second position is the highest ranking ever achieved by a Suzuki model in the New Zealand market with the Suzuki Swift outselling the Toyota Corolla and Ford Falcon.

Swift sales continue to grow with the model already up 29 percent on the same period last year and a massive 98 percent up on the same period in 2005.

Sales of new Swifts in New Zealand for 2007 will easily shatter the record set by the model last year.

The newly introduced SX4 five-door hatchback was the second most popular Suzuki model, with demand outstripping supply.

“We were delighted with the result and with the increasingly widespread consumer acceptance for the brand,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand Ltd. “We had a shortage of supply for SX4 but this did not hide the fact that we achieved our best-ever retail result.”

“It is also pleasing the sales of Swift continue to step up,” he said. “Swift is one of New Zealand’s top selling passenger cars creating a customer desire that is second to none.”

Demand for other Suzuki models was also buoyant. Sales of the versatile Grand Vitara range were good, and demand for the compact Jimny four-wheel-drive is rising.

In the commercial vehicle sector, sales of the Suzuki APV Van are up a solid 38 percent on the same period last year.

Heightened demand for Suzuki is a further progression of last year’s result when the make increased sales while total motor industry volume declined.

ENDS

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