Suzuki expects Spanish sales to jump 56% to 15,000 units in 2005, bolstered by the launch of its redesigned Swift supermini and Grand Vitara SUV models, commercial director Juan Lopez Frade told just-auto.
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Suzuki will invest €18 million this year, up from €12 million in 2004, to promote the cars, Lopez said.
“We have surpassed our sales targets in the past four months and the new products we are rolling out will help us to significantly improve our performance,” Lopez added.
Lopez was speaking as Suzuki prepared to unveil the Hungarian-made Swift at the Barcelona motor show, which runs until mid May.
Suzuki will roll out an advertising blitz this summer that will feature TV spots for the Swift and other efforts to promote the Grand Vitara, which will hit the market in September.
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By GlobalDataLopez said Spain is the sixth-biggest European market for Suzuki and it currently holds a 0.8% share there. The company operates independently after severing ties with former distributor Santana last year.
Suzuki hopes to wrest 2% of the market by 2007, Lopez said. However, it will see tough competition in a country saturated with Japanese and other Asian rivals which are pushing a slew of mini and SUV models.
Ivan Castano
