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Suzuki South Africa recorded another stellar sales month in May after it welcomed 975 new owners to the family.
This result, as verified by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa), is one of the highest sales months on record for the company and the second highest sales month for its dealer network.
READ - Bad news for SA car industry: Vehicle sales drop in May 2019 - Naamsa
"In May, our dealers sold 971 of the 975 vehicles sold by the company, making it their second-best sales month after the 1 006 units they sold in March last year.
"We are very proud of their achievement and the way they continue to welcome new customers to the Suzuki brand," says André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki South Africa.
Image: Motorpress
The automotive industry often uses dealer sales as a proxy for the health of a vehicle brand. Unlike sales to government or large rental fleets, dealer sales largely represent individual customers who vote with their wallets and personally decide which brand to purchase.
In May, the industry average for dealer sales was 87.7%, while Suzuki set a record of 99%.
Suzuki recognised its dealer network during its annual Dealer of the Year Awards in Johannesburg on 10 May, when Suzuki Bramley was named the 2018/19 Dealer of the Year. At the awards, dealers from as far afield as Worchester, Queenstown, Klerksdorp and Polokwane won category awards, pointing to the brand’s wide reach and high dealer standards.
At the awards, Suzuki welcomed new dealers from Kyalami and Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal and announced that it is looking at additional regions where the growing customer base could benefit from having a dealer close by.
Image: Motorpress
"Building a strong dealer network is paramount to our success. We rely on our dealers to maintain the high standards that Suzuki has become known for, while welcoming hundreds of new customers every month. This network, together with our brand, products and effective measurement and feedback, is our recipe for success," says Venter.
Several Suzuki models performed very well in May. The Swift, the brand’s perennial best-seller, sold 351 units, followed by the Ignis and Ertiga, with 185 and 108 sales respectively. The Jimny, fresh from its category awards in the World- and South African Car of the Year Awards, sold 17 units.
In total, Suzuki has sold over 5 114 cars and SUVs in the first five months of 2019, for an average of over 1 000 units a month.
“While we have a very comprehensive range of exciting and affordable vehicles, we will boost it further with the imminent introduction of the Swift Sport and Vitara Turbo,” says Venter.
Both vehicles are fitted with Suzuki’s new 1.4 litre Boosterjet petrol engine, which delivers 103 kW and 230 Nm of torque.
In the Vitara, this engine delivers range-topping performance and high-speed cruising, while in the Swift it is matched to a sportier suspension and gearbox for driving fun that is worthy of the Swift Sport nomenclature.
