Suzuki
Motor Corp increased production in Hungary 30.6% to 7,602 in March 2001 from 5,821
in March 2000, according to provisional totals provided to just-auto.com.

Volumes rose: 102.1% for Wagon R+ to 4,047 from 2,002; and 91.6% for Swift
4-door hatchback to 1,927 from 1,006. Volumes fell: 45.7% for Swift 2-door hatchback
to 1,021 from 1,882; and 13.5% for Swift sedan to 454 from 525.

Output dropped 62.3% to 153 from 406 for editions of Swift hatchback badged
Subaru Justy on license from Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Suzuki
Production in Hungary – March
Brand Model Body March
2000		 March
2001		 %
Change
Suzuki Swift hatchback
(2-door)		 1,882 1,021 -45.7
Suzuki Swift hatchback
(4-door)		 1,006 1,927 91.6
Suzuki Swift sedan 525 454 -13.5
Suzuki Wagon
R+		 microvan 2,002 4,047 102.1
Subaru Justy hatchback 406 153 -62.3
TOTAL     5,821 7,602 30.6
SOURCE
just-auto.com

Year-to-date, production grew 48.8% to 23,237 in 2001 from 15,617 in 2000.
Increases tallied: 260.1% for Wagon R+ to 12,185 from 3,384; 26.5% for Swift
sedan to 2,128 from 1,682; and 5.2% for Swift 4-door hatchback to 5,661 from
5,381. Decreases registered: 54.7% for Justy to 522 from 1,152; and 31.8% for
Swift two-door hatchback to 2,741 from 4,018.

Suzuki
Production in Hungary – Year to Date
Brand Model Body YTD
2000		 YTD
2001		 %
Change
Suzuki Swift hatchback
(2-door)		 4,018 2,741 -31.8
Suzuki Swift hatchback
(4-door)		 5,381 5,661 5.2
Suzuki Swift sedan 1,682 2,128 26.5
Suzuki Wagon
R+		 microvan 3,384 12,185 260.1
Subaru Justy hatchback 1,152 522 -54.7
TOTAL     15,617 23,237 48.8
SOURCE
just-auto.com

In 2000 versus 1999, output expanded 13.4% to 77,253 from 68,105. Wagon R+,
launched in fourth-quarter 1999, accounted for the entire upturn, producing
31,843 in 2000 and 36 in 1999. Volume dropped: 34.1% for all versions of Swift
to 42,137 from 63,979; and 20.0% for Justy to 3,273 from 4,090.

Suzuki
Production in Hungary – 2000
Brand Model 1999 2000 %
Change
Suzuki Swift 63,979 42,137 -34.1
Suzuki Wagon
R+		 36 31,843 88352.8
Subaru Justy 4,090 3,273 -20.0
TOTAL   68,105 77,253 13.4
SOURCE
just-auto.com

The factory, named Magyar Suzuki Rt (MS), is based in Esztergom, roughly 40km
northwest of Budapest. MS is owned 97.31% by Suzuki and 2.46% by Japanese trading
house Itochu Corp. The remaining 0.23% is held by a variety of companies and
people.

MS, the only plant in Eastern Europe making Japanese cars, expects output to
rise 12.6% this year to 87,000 – 44,000 Swift (including Justy) plus 43,000
Wagon R+.

Annual production capacity (50,000 at the factory’s opening in 1992) is scheduled
to expand to 100,000 in 2002.

Contact Ryan
James Tutak, associate editor of just-auto.com for Eastern Europe:
E ryan.tutak@just-auto.com
F +36-1 / 317-7257
T +36-1 / 266-2693

Automotive
b2b – Strategic threats and opportunities in the automotive supply chain

The
automotive industry of central and eastern Europe