Suzuki - automotive industry company news

US: Denso execs facing prison for price fixing

22 May 2013

Two Japanese executives who worked for Denso Corporation are facing over a year in a US federal prison following their roles in a price fixing scandal.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The numbers are (still coming) in

10 May 2013

Quarterly/fiscal full year results continued to roll in this week with a healthy uptick at Suzuki in 2012/3, the latest Japanese automaker to finally shrug off the combined effects of the double whammy Japanese earthquake and Thai floods - and also benefit from the recent downward movement of the yen.

PRODUCT EYE: Suzuki Grand Vitara

10 May 2013

Thought all the medium-sized frame-platform SUVs had been replaced by front-wheel drive ones? Glenn Brooks reacquaints himself with the latest Suzuki Grand Vitara, a proper old-school 4x4.

JAPAN: Suzuki boosts operating income 21%

9 May 2013

Operating income at Suzuki Motor increased 21% to JPY144.6bn for the fiscal year to 31 March, 2013 thanks to higher sales in Japan and Asia, and cost reduction.

INDONESIA: Sales growth continues in April

8 May 2013

New car sales in Indonesia expanded by 17.2% to 102,079 units in April, compared with 87,079 units a year earlier, according to preliminary wholesale data released by local distributors.

US APRIL SALES: Detroit grows market share

3 May 2013

US light vehicle sales continued their upward swing in April, finishing up 8.5% year on year at 1.29m for the month. Year to date (YTD) results were 6.9% ahead of the first four months of 2012.

NEW ZEALAND: Best April CV sales for 30 years

3 May 2013

New Zealand's new commercial vehicle registrations of 2,235 units was the best April result since 1982 when 2,754 were sold, according to the new vehicle trade group.

INDIA: Maruti Suzuki domestic sales inch up in April

2 May 2013

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India sold 90,523 units locally in April 2013 for growth of just 0.3% over April 2012.

INDIA: Maruti Suzuki’s 2013 net profit soars 40.6% to US$424.64m

1 May 2013

Maruti Suzuki India financials for the fiscal quarter ended 31 March 2013 included the effect of the merger of Suzuki Powertrain India (SPIL) and results for the full year included a 41% rise in net profit.

MYANMAR: Ford opens first dealership

1 May 2013

Ford has opened its first dealership in Myanmar [once Burma - ed], in the commercial capital of Yangon, following the recent lifting of economic sanctions by the EU and the US.

INDIA: GM set to launch first locally-assembled Chinese minivan

29 April 2013

One of China's most popular vehicles, the SGMW joint venture's Wuling Hong Guang, is about to go on sale in India as the locally assembled Chevrolet Enjoy.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The numbers are in

26 April 2013

Results season - Q1 2013, Q4/fiscal year 2012/3, etc. We disappear under a mountain of figures and you get it all neatly sliced, diced and packaged here. Enjoy.

JAPAN: Production reaches four-year high

24 April 2013

Japan’s major carmakers' combined domestic output in fiscal 2012 rose 2.9% over the previous year to 9,055,373 units, passing 9m for the first time in four years.

COLOMBIA: Sales fell 23% YTD in Q1 but recovery is expected

24 April 2013

The government announcement about reducing credit interest rates came as Colombian new car sales fell 23% YTD though month on month sales in March rose 2.9% to 22,888 units, the best month in 2013 so far.

INDONESIA: Daihatsu delays small car production

23 April 2013

Indonesia’s largest vehicle manufacturer, Astra Daihatsu Motor, said it is delaying production of its new small car range until the government announces its long-anticipated small car policy.

SHANGHAI: Global debuts list [Final version with additional cars & updated descriptions]

22 April 2013

Details of concepts and new models which made their global debuts on Saturday 20 April at Auto Shanghai's media preview day.

INDIA: Japanese automakers seek concessions similar to those proposed for EU companies

19 April 2013

Japanese automakers want India to provide concessions like the ones it is preparing to offer European companies.

CHINA: IAC opens new plant in Chongqing

17 April 2013

International Automotive Components (IAC) has celebrated the opening of its 10th and newest manufacturing facility in China, in the southwest city of Chongqing, supplying cockpit and interior components.

INDIA: Maruti Suzuki may build plant in South Africa

10 April 2013

Maruti Suzuki is the latest Indian automaker to consider setting up a plant in South Africa. The company could use the planned facility for supplying neighbouring markets.

INDIA: Suzuki in India facing large fine on parts deals

10 April 2013

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) considers Maruti Suzuki India's deals with its parts suppliers anti-competitive. The commission believes Maruti Suzuki was abusing its dominance in the market by restricting the supply of spare parts and charging a high premium on them.

US: Car sales continue to rise

3 April 2013

US light vehicle sales continue to grow last month. Automakers delivered better than 1.4m cars and trucks, a 3.5% improvement over March 2012. This translated into a seasonally adjusted annualised rate (SAAR) of 15.27m sales, slightly below analysts’ expectation of 15.4m, but more than 1m sales higher than the mark from last March. March 2013 was the fifth consecutive month the SAAR was above 15m.

INDIA: Maruti Suzuki’s March sales drop 4.8% to 119,937 units

3 April 2013

Maruti Suzuki India sold 119,937 units in March 2013. This included 12,047 exports.

US: American Suzuki Motor closes assets sale to Suzuki Motor of America

3 April 2013

PE Creditor Trust said American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) had closed the sale of its operating assets to Suzuki Motor of America, a newly organised, wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor, which will operate as the sole distributor of Suzuki products in the continental US. ASMC has wound down all operations.

INTERVIEW: Keno Kato, Corporate VP of Product Planning for Nissan & Infiniti

2 April 2013

Keno Kato is corporate vice president of Global Product Strategy and Product Planning for Nissan and Infiniti. Glenn Brooks recently met him and took the opportunity to ask a variety of questions concerning future model plans.

NEW ZEALAND: Commercials drive March sales surge

2 April 2013

March new vehicle registrations in New Zealand rose 11.5% year on year to 9,505 units. Commercial vehicle sales were up 33.3% to 2,705, the best result for the month since 1985. Passenger car registrations rose 4.6% to 6,800.

BANGKOK SHOW: Domestic economy rebound boosts sales to record

27 March 2013

The 34th Bangkok International Motor Show got under way with a press preview on 26 March against a backdrop of record domestic sales in the country - driven by a domestic economy rebounding strongly from the devastating floods at the end of 2011.

INDIA: Fiat plans yet another re-launch

27 March 2013

Fiat plans to tap into niche and specialist markets in India rather than challenge small car market leaders Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai head on.

INTERVIEW: Agromash Holdings on PSA partnership in Kazakhstan

26 March 2013

PSA Peugeot Citroen recently inked a partnership with Agromash Holding, for the assembly and distribution of the French automaker's passenger cars and LCVs in Kazakhstan. Simon Warburton was in contact with the trailer and agricultural machinery manufacturer based in the huge country on Russia's southern border.

INDIA: Maruti to lead Suzuki Motor’s global investment drive

26 March 2013

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) will now take the lead and invest in all future assembly plants across the world for its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), which may leverage MSIL's INR70bn (US$1.29bn) cash reserves to make fresh investments abroad.