In a market downturn in which the overall vehicle sales slipped by 13.4% in November 2023, Suzuki stands out with a remarkable 2% rise, selling 4 381 vehicles. Notably, the Suzuki dealer network contributed significantly to this success by setting a new record with 3 947 units sold, surpassing the previous record set just 30 days ago.

This marks Suzuki’s fourth consecutive month of above-average sales, contrasting the general trend of declining sales in the vehicle market. Henno Havenga, general manager of sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa, attributes this success to customers turning to Suzuki for solutions amid rising living costs.

Suzuki’s popular models, including the Suzuki Swift, Fronx and Ertiga, experienced increased sales over the previous year. The Suzuki Swift secured 1 117 new homes, while the recently launched Fronx achieved 547 sales despite stock challenges. The Suzuki Ertiga and commercial vehicle Suzuki Eeco also contributed to the brand’s success.

Havenga points out that Suzuki’s consistent growth signals a shift in consumer buying habits, with customers choosing brands like Suzuki for better value-for-money motoring and lower monthly fuel bills. Despite the overall market only seeing a marginal increase of 0.5%, Suzuki’s growth reflects changing preferences.

Even amid the lingering effects of the 2020 pandemic on the vehicle market, Suzuki continues to grow. Havenga highlights the brand’s resilience by comparing Suzuki’s highest-ever sales month in July 2022, with 4 622 vehicles sold, to the industry’s total of 43 593 vehicles.

Another standout achievement is Suzuki setting two new dealer sales records in the past four months while the market faced a decline.

Anticipating another strong sales month in December, Havenga looks forward to the full month of sales for the Suzuki Jimny five-door range.

Source: MotorPress