By Otsile Kadiege

Suzuki Auto South Africa has broken through the 50 000 barrier for the first time in its history. The brand this week received its final sales figures for the financial year from April 2023 to March 2024. It shows that 51 969 new Suzuki models were sold in the 12-month period, setting a new all-time record and breaking through the 50 000 barrier for the first time.

The brand started its financial year in April 2023 with the introduction of the all-new Grand Vitara, its flagship and the first hybrid Suzuki model. The Suzuki Eeco panel van landed in the same month. Other models joined the line-up throughout the year, including the Fronx and XL6 (August) and the Jimny five-door model (November). The larger Jimny made a guest appearance at Suzuki Auto South Africa’s Jimny Gathering, where 787 South African Jimnys set a new Guiness World Record for the most vehicles to switch on their lights at the same time.

Along the way, Suzuki and its dealers set several new monthly sales records. These include selling the 200 000^th South African Suzuki in July 2023, breaking through the 5 000-a-month record in January with 5 249 sales and the Suzuki dealer network selling a record 4 488 vehicles to customers in February.

Suzuki is one of a handful of vehicle brands that have grown their sales and market share in a sharply declining market. In March, for instance, the new vehicle market recorded a drop of 11.3% over the same month last year, its eighth month of consecutive declines.