Suzuki Swift a Sales Champion Six Years in Succession

The chart-topping Suzuki Swift has romped ahead in the New Zealand new car sales race for the sixth successive year.

The nation’s favourite small car maintained its popularity in 2010, posting a 17 per cent sales gain over the previous year while total car sales increased by 14 per cent.

A top seller since its introduction in 2005, the fifth generation Swift hatchback is the most successful Suzuki passenger car model ever sold in New Zealand.

Last year it was a key factor in Suzuki increasing its total new car sales by 22 per cent to a record market penetration of 7.1 per cent.

Suzuki sold 4,411 cars in 2010 compared with 3,612 in 2009 and maintained its position as the sixth best selling passenger franchise, ahead of Mitsubishi, Nissan and Honda.

Not only did the European inspired Swift outsell all other super-mini cars last year, it was second overall to the Toyota Corolla in all model sales.

The Swift was also the number one selling new car to private vehicle purchasers in
New Zealand in 2010, outselling runner-up Corolla by more than 30 per cent.

“In a tough private buyer market the popularity of the Swift and the benefits of Suzuki’s real value pricing policy shone through to consumers” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.

The highly competitive retail pricing also includes all on-road costs and five years roadside assistance, helping to lower running costs and maintain healthy retained value of the car.

More than 20,000 examples of the current generation Swift are now on New Zealand roads.

Two years ago the ubiquitous Suzuki was the first small car to become the top selling model in the local market and at times it has outsold its nearest rival by more than two to one.

Tom Peck said the arrival of the next generation Swift in February was eagerly awaited but meanwhile the current model was still selling as well as ever.

“The success of the Swift has been outstanding and its continued popularity is testament to the huge strides made by the Suzuki brand in recent years,” he said.

Suzuki’s second best selling model, the versatile 2-litre SX4, has continued to enjoy solid demand and was in the top ten private buyers sales list in 2010.

The all-new medium size Suzuki Kizashi ended 2010 as the fourth most popular Suzuki, just behind the Grand Vitara, despite its introduction shortly before mid-year.

Rising popularity of the Suzuki brand was mirrored across the Tasman where Suzuki Australia posted record sales last year. Suzuki sales increased by 22 per cent over 2009, or more than twice improvement in the industry average.

Fast expanding Maruti Suzuki increased its December sales in India by 26 per cent to 89,469 for the month.

The Indian arm of Suzuki produces the latest generation Alto mini-car which is one of the least expensive and thriftiest cars available in New Zealand.

ENDS

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