Robert Barry, Autotalk, October 2024
Suzuki Queensland has recorded its best year-to-date sales performance in over a decade.
Spurred by an 81.5% increase in year-to-date Jimny sales and a 34.8% increase in Vitara sales, the Queensland and Northern Rivers distributor of Suzuki cars has a sales chart rapidly heading north for 2024.
According to VFACTS, the industry’s sales monitor, that chart shows a 40.1% leap in Suzuki Queensland’s sales over the corresponding nine months of last year.
Suzuki Queensland’s sales so far this year have already exceeded last year’s total by almost 14% in a Queensland automotive market that is up by only 3.1%—coincidentally, the same percentage increase as for Australia.
The Suzuki Swift range, which now includes the Swift Hybrid released mid-year, continues to hold second place in outright sales for the light car segment, with sales approximately on par with last year.
“It’s a great result that reflects across the range.” Suzuki Queensland general manager Paul Dillon says.
“It is not just a one-model sales spurt but demonstrates improved sales performance across the range.
“Suzuki S-Cross sales are up 384% year-to-date, but admittedly, that is of a relatively modest sales base, and the brand’s super economiser, the compact Ignis SUV, has continued to attract sales from those in the budget vehicle and size-conscious market.
“Feedback from our dealer network, all of whom are multi-franchised, is that the Suzuki value proposition, which includes delivering outstanding reliability and fuel economy, is helping drive this sales performance.
“The reality is that times are tough at a consumer level, so when we have two of our technicians visit our Bundaberg dealership this week, and they record 2.9l/100km in their Swift Hybrid CVT – that’s an incredible 80 miles per gallon in old-speak – it strikes a chord.
“They are excellent drivers, but the economy is still better than the motorcycle, which our Service and Training Manager also rides,” he says.
The Suzuki Hybrid CVT’s published combined cycle fuel economy is 4l/100km or 59 mpg.
The sales position of Suzuki’s northern distributor is more impressive considering the VFACTS data reviewed here only applies to the state of Queensland but that the managing entity, Suzuki Auto Co., also distributes vehicles into northern New South Wales, which then are amalgamated by VFACTS into the NSW state report.
Suzuki Queensland’s outstanding sales performance so far in 2024 also has helped propel Suzuki’s overall Australian sales performance to a 20.3% increase in the nine months to September 30.
https://autotalk.com.au/industry-news/suzuki-queensland-sales-up-40-year-to-date