Suzuki News

For the first time ever, Suzuki is running in third place in the Japanese domestic market behind Toyota and Nissan, outselling Honda in the process.

The figures, issued by the respected financial daily newspaper Nikkei Shimbun, show that between January and October 2006, Suzuki notched up 587,874 sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The newspaper also predicts that the company will maintain this position for the full year.

Suzuki’s popularity in the home market is mirrored by rising exports as the demand for its compact cars increases worldwide. The exception styley strong sales of Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4 in Europe, North and South America and Oceania have meant manufacturing plants operating flat out and has prompted Suzuki to announce substantial new investments in production capacity worldwide.

The new Sagara facility in Japan will commence operation in late 2008 and will have a capacity of 240,000 compact vehicles, while expansion at its plants in Hungary, India and Pakistan announced earlier this year will add a further 530,000 units (see table below).

Sales are set to receive a further boost with the launch during 2007 of a compact MPV based on the Splash concept revealed at September’s Paris Motor Show.

Suzuki Motor Corporation aims to achieve consolidated net sales of 3 trillion yen (approximately Euro 20 billion) in the current financial year, ending March 2007.

It is currently the fourth-largest Japanese carmaker by market capitalisation and has also seen operating profits rise by almost 20 per cent in the six months to the end of September.

Japanese sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles*

*Source: Nikkei Shimbun

Planned increases in Suzuki’s production capacity outside Japan:

When all the talk about fuel cells centres on their application within the automobile, it may come as a surprise to learn that Suzuki is applying the technology in the powered wheelchair market.

The company is one of the largest manufacturers of such products, and its latest model, the MIO, features a fuel cell that uses methanol as a fuel source to generate hydrogen and therefore electricity.

The tank holds 4 litres and that’s sufficient to provide MIO with a range of approximately 25 miles. There’s also an LCD display showing fuel level and power sources. Therefore, unlike wheelchairs that rely solely on mains charging of the battery, it addresses users’ fears of being stranded at some distance from their home. It is also easy to refill.

A large capacity Li-ion secondary battery acts as a store for the electricity generated and a back up source of power.

The modern design features armrests that double up as safety barriers, ergonomic handlebars that require minimal effort even on full lock, and a seat that features a mesh-type fabric for good aeration and improved springing.

Compact dimensions – 1200 mm long, 650 mm wide and 1000 mm tall – also mean it’s nimble in the crowded urban environment.

At this stage MIO remains a prototype while Suzuki assesses customer interest.