Suzuki car sales DIE!

[Mega]

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09...ving-into.html

1st to go?
Mike

[metalman]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09...ving-into.html

1st to go?
Mike

it's called capitalism. the shit cars go first, unless the manufacturers employ enough voters... then they get bailed out.

[Chris]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

it's called capitalism. the shit cars go first, unless the manufacturers employ enough voters... then they get bailed out.

I think you're confusing it with Crapitalism.

[sgominator]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

the shit cars go first, unless the manufacturers employ enough voters... then they get bailed out.

www.fiat.italiantaxpayers.gov.it

the carmaker formerly known as www.fiat.com

[hayekvindicated]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/09...ving-into.html

1st to go?
Mike

Interesting. Suzuki has a HUGE chunk of one of the fastest growing car markets in the world - India (annual growth is in the order of around 40 percent). They were the first foreign car company to enter India after 40 years of Nehru Socialism which turned India into a basket case.

My dad has owned Suzukis for twenty five years. Never had a single problem with them - through bad Indian roads, monsoons, blistering hot weather. Ive driven them for fifteen years myself. Love them.

While Im no expert on the US market, this may simply be a function of the rapidly shrinking American market through debt deflation.

[GRG55]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

Interesting. Suzuki has a HUGE chunk of one of the fastest growing car markets in the world - India (annual growth is in the order of around 40 percent). They were the first foreign car company to enter India after 40 years of Nehru Socialism which turned India into a basket case.

My dad has owned Suzukis for twenty five years. Never had a single problem with them - through bad Indian roads, monsoons, blistering hot weather. Ive driven them for fifteen years myself. Love them.

While Im no expert on the US market, this may simply be a function of the rapidly shrinking American market through debt deflation.

The Suzuki cars are fine, they're just too tiny to have broad appeal in the North American market.

GM had a joint-venture with Suzuki [similar to the Maruti JV in India] and sold cars made by Suzuki, or powered with Suzuki drivetrains, under the Chevy Sprint, Geo Metro, and Pontiac Firefly model names. None of them ever sold in quantities, or commanded profit margins, comparable to the Yukon or Tahoe SUVs though...we North Americans love our big vehicles apparently. Suzuki is re-learning this lesson the hard way.

btw, Suzuki was not the first foreign car company to enter India...Fiat entered the country decades before Suzuki, and by the early 1970s had a significant share of the, then much smaller, Indian car market because its cars were lighter and more fuel efficient than the ubiquitous Hindustan Motors Ambassador.

[hayekvindicated]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

The Suzuki cars are fine, they're just too tiny to have broad appeal in the North American market.

GM had a joint-venture with Suzuki [similar to the Maruti JV in India] and sold cars made by Suzuki, or powered with Suzuki drivetrains, under the Chevy Sprint, Geo Metro, and Pontiac Firefly model names. None of them ever sold in quantities, or commanded profit margins, comparable to the Yukon or Tahoe SUVs though...we North Americans love our big vehicles apparently. Suzuki is re-learning this lesson the hard way.

btw, Suzuki was not the first foreign car company to enter India...Fiat entered the country decades before Suzuki, and by the early 1970s had a significant share of the, then much smaller, Indian car market because its cars were lighter and more fuel efficient than the ubiquitous Hindustan Motors Ambassador.

Yes it is a matter of preference. India has never had huge oil reserves and almost all the oil is imported. Also, given the low incomes, Indians have tended to be extremely cautious with fuel consumption.

Americans will have a painful adjustment coming their way when oil prices climb back to 08 levels. Also, no offence intended, but most Americans and Canadians are too, ahem, "large" to fit in European and Japanese cars (except the luxury large ones).

Im not sure Fiat actually had an "interest" in Premier Motors - which was an Indian company which manufactured Fiats under a licence from Fiat. I don't think Fiat had an actual stake in the Indian company which made those cars.

Incidentally, American cars were LOVED in India a long time ago. My Grandfather owned one of these:

http://file042b.bebo.com/9/large/200...133424826l.jpg

This thing was huge and was astonishingly well made. Family drove it for half a million kilomters over three decades without any problems. The Chevrolets were even better back then. Of course, in the 1940s, only a tiny minority owned cars in India.

There is probably not a single American car made today that could withstand the kind of punishment that car went through.

[GRG55]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

...Americans will have a painful adjustment coming their way when oil prices climb back to 08 levels. Also, no offence intended, but most Americans and Canadians are too, ahem, "large" to fit in European and Japanese cars (except the luxury large ones)...

Not to worry...the Europeans seem to be catching on. Something for those large Americans and Canadians:

Massive Mini targets family car market

3 September 2010 Last updated at 07:28 ET

A new Mini will hit the road later this month - one that has moved miles away from the marque's roots and seems to defy much of the logic of the tiny original.

At a driving event for the media this week, the new Mini Countryman was met with much head-shaking by puzzled, albeit curious, motoring journalists...

...Park it next to a classic and there are clearly more differences than similarities. At almost twice the size, the Countryman clearly lacks the low-slung go-cart-like characteristics of the original...

...Instead, the roomy car is pitched as an alternative for drivers who have chosen not to buy Minis in the past, precisely because they have been too small, or at drivers who have outgrown the hatchback or the convertible...

[hayekvindicated]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

Not to worry...the Europeans seem to be catching on. Something for those large Americans and Canadians:

Massive Mini targets family car market

3 September 2010 Last updated at 07:28 ET

A new Mini will hit the road later this month - one that has moved miles away from the marque's roots and seems to defy much of the logic of the tiny original.

At a driving event for the media this week, the new Mini Countryman was met with much head-shaking by puzzled, albeit curious, motoring journalists...

...Park it next to a classic and there are clearly more differences than similarities. At almost twice the size, the Countryman clearly lacks the low-slung go-cart-like characteristics of the original...

...Instead, the roomy car is pitched as an alternative for drivers who have chosen not to buy Minis in the past, precisely because they have been too small, or at drivers who have outgrown the hatchback or the convertible...

A bigger car does not necessarily mean waste. A lot depends on the engine. Per litre of of piston displacement, American cars produce a fraction of the horse power that European cars and Japanese cars produce. For example, you have American cars with huge V8 engines in excess of 5 litres producing the power that you can get in a Japanese or German car which is barely 3.5 L running on a V6. So fuel consumption wise, you are still much worse off with an American car of the same horsepower.

Here's one example.

[Spartacus]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

As far as I was concerned, the Suzukis were the best cars for a while.

I loved it any time I could get my hands on a relative's Swift hatchback(the Dodge Omni of the 90s. If I remember correctly, same body, bigger engine than the rebranded Geo, almost overpowered for the weight)

I once shoved a full size used refrigerator (don't ask me how) into that Swift & drove it to my relative's place.

The Suzuki cars are fine, they're just too tiny to have broad appeal in the North American market.

I guess it just shows how out of the mainstream I've been. My just-graduated buddies wanted Mustangs, Camaros, RX-7s and Porsches, I wanted a souped up Swift with a 5 point harness & a Recaro.

GM had a joint-venture with Suzuki [similar to the Maruti JV in India] and sold cars made by Suzuki, or powered with Suzuki drivetrains, under the Chevy Sprint, Geo Metro, and Pontiac Firefly model names. None of them ever sold in quantities, or commanded profit margins, comparable to the Yukon or Tahoe SUVs though...we North Americans love our big vehicles apparently. Suzuki is re-learning this lesson the hard way.

btw, Suzuki was not the first foreign car company to enter India...Fiat entered the country decades before Suzuki, and by the early 1970s had a significant share of the, then much smaller, Indian car market because its cars were lighter and more fuel efficient than the ubiquitous Hindustan Motors Ambassador.

[shiny!]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

The Suzuki cars are fine, they're just too tiny to have broad appeal in the North American market.

GM had a joint-venture with Suzuki [similar to the Maruti JV in India] and sold cars made by Suzuki, or powered with Suzuki drivetrains, under the Chevy Sprint, Geo Metro, and Pontiac Firefly model names. None of them ever sold in quantities, or commanded profit margins, comparable to the Yukon or Tahoe SUVs though...we North Americans love our big vehicles apparently. Suzuki is re-learning this lesson the hard way.

For years I wanted a small car, wanted to conserve fuel and do my part to help the environment. I was considering a Geo Metro. So when I went to San Diego and had the opportunity to rent one, I was thrilled. It was so cute!

Then I drove it on the freeway, got passed by an 18-wheeler, and just about fouled my britches! I was suddenly bouncing all over the road, lost almost all control and almost bounced under the damned truck! Got cured of my desire to save the planet right fast.

For a short while my husband drove a tiny Ford Fiesta. One night the front door was open and a gust of wind swung it all the way back on the hinges, denting the front side panel. If a gust of wind could dent the panel, imagine what a collison would do.

After those experiences, I decided that I like cheap, strong old cars. From 2000-2010 I drove an '86 Crown Victoria that I saved from the junkyard, until it couldn't be repaired anymore. Since March I drive a '95 Grand Marquis. It gets better than 21 mpg with the A/C on. It's not the best MPG but I'm safe.

When/if gasoline gets too expensive, most of the big trucks and SUV's will be off the road and I'll drive a scooter or one of these:

http://www.arcimoto.com/.

[GRG55]

Re: Suzuki car sales DIE!

Interesting. Suzuki has a HUGE chunk of one of the fastest growing car markets in the world - India (annual growth is in the order of around 40 percent). They were the first foreign car company to enter India after 40 years of Nehru Socialism which turned India into a basket case.

My dad has owned Suzukis for twenty five years. Never had a single problem with them - through bad Indian roads, monsoons, blistering hot weather. Ive driven them for fifteen years myself. Love them.

While Im no expert on the US market, this may simply be a function of the rapidly shrinking American market through debt deflation.

Bingo:

Suzuki to take stock of ‘exciting times'

Looks at unprecedented demand for its new range of cars


Osamu Suzuki, Chairman and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, is expected to visit India early this month to coincide with the company's annual general body meeting, it is learnt.

This will be Mr. Suzuki's second visit to India this year. He was here in March when the company rolled out a record millionth car.

During the visit, Mr Suzuki is expected to take stock of `exciting times' that the company and the industry face. Mr Suzuki, who had committed to make India an R&D hub for small cars, is also expected to take stock of the ambitious R&D centre that is coming up at Rohtak, Haryana.

The company has seen unprecedented demand for its new models such as Ritz, Eeco, new WagonR and Alto-K10. The company has grown over 25 per cent as against an industry projection of 12-15 per cent growth levels for the year. Maruti
Suzuki is producing 20 per cent above current capacity.

The company is stretching further to make more cars from its existing facilities. In the first six months, MSIL has made 25 per cent more cars as compared to the first-half of last fiscal.

Notwithstanding this, almost all models are under a waiting period...



Maruti Suzuki to build new auto plant in India

REUTERS, Sep 5, 2010, 10.56am IST


TOKYO: Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp is planning to build a new factory in India capable of producing more than 250,000 vehicles a year, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

Suzuki aims to start operations at the new plant as soon as 2013, the newspaper reported without citing a source.

The automaker, which first started production in India in 1983, plans to expand output there to 1.45 million units by 2012.

The latest expansion will increase annual output in India to 1.7 million units by 2013 -- exceeding total output of 1.4 million in Japan, the newspaper said.

Suzuki has more than 50 percent market share in India, which is one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world.

Maruti Suzuki, India's leading car maker which is 54.2 percent owned by Suzuki, posted a 24 percent rise in August sales for its best-ever month.