By Malusi Msomi

The Covid-19 pandemic might have affected vehicle sales, but some manufacturers like Suzuki are breaking their sales records time and time and again. Suzuki recorded 3,347 units sold accounting to a near 10 % share of the passenger vehicle market and a position in the top 5 among South Africa’s best-selling brands.

While most popular vehicle brands had a good sales month in March, Suzuki outperformed most with a new overall sales record, a new dealer sales record and a new record for the 2021/2022 financial year. Naamsa reported that Suzuki sold 3,347 vehicles and exported a further 17 for a new all-time record of 3,364 units. This is the brand’s fifth time in a mere seven months that it managed to sell more than 3,000 units. Suzuki’s fleet division is also performing well as it delivered 409 vehicles to government and rental fleet customers in March. Suzuki has firmly established itself as one of South Africa’s most popular vehicle brands. The company ended its financial year with total sales of 31,048 units, a new record. This is a full 69 % better than in the previous reporting period.

In the month of March, Suzuki welcomed its 80th dealer. Suzuki’s dealer network sold 2,933 units in March. This is a new all-time record and is within touching distance of the 3,000-unit mark. Brendon Carpenter, brand marketing manager of Suzuki Auto says: “The industry is acutely aware of the economic pressures that the average South African motorist is facing. Fuel prices keep rising, food and housing inflation is growing, and many people are still trying to recover from the economic impact of the last two years.”