Suzuki is back in South Africa. For those of you who see their motorcycles whizzing past all the time and didn't realise they had ever left, we're talking Suzuki cars.
The Grand Vitara and Samurai SUVs previously sold here by General Motors, will return as part of a major local product offensive by the Japanese brand that will for the first time include cars.
Suzuki Motor Corporation has established Suzuki Auto SA in Linbro Park, Johannesburg as part of a R90-million investment, 15 percent owned by motorcycle importer Suzuki SA. It will start selling cars in June.
First to appear will be the Suzuki Swift small hatchback and the Suzuki SX4 crossover hatch, followed in September by the 4x4 offerings - the Jimny (previously the Samurai) and and all-new Grand Vitara. The range will be expanded during 2009 as this previously small player seeks to gain a much larger foothold in SA.
There are about 3000 Suzuki car owners in SA but the new company is aiming to sell that many in its first year, building up to 11 500 a year and 35 dealers after five years.
Seven dealers will be established through 2008, spread through Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Each will have service, repair and parts shops - the last supplying for current and past models - and all new cars will be sold with warranties and service plans.
Suzuki vehicles used to be distributed in SA in limited numbers through General Motors (then Delta Motor Corporation) but the arrangement was terminated in 2004. Internationally, GM sold its 17 percent stake in Suzuki in 2006 and the American giant now holds only three percent of the company.
Kazuyuki Yamashita, MD of Suzuki Auto SA, said: "We are confident that the Suzuki automotive brand will do very well in South Africa, Market and feasibility studies have shown that there is positive market sentiment towards Suzuki automobiles and that an expanded range of Suzuki vehicles with a dedicated dealer network will be well received."
He said prices would be very competitive.
"Suzuki can compete very well with other Japanese brands on quality but not yet on brand image. While that is built our prices initially will be be slightly lower than our Japanese competitors."
Suzuki has a limited presence in many First World markets but is big in developing countries such as India (where it has more than 50 percent market share) and Pakistan. A Suzuki SX4 was seventh in last weekend's Swedish Rally.
So, the 2008 Suzuki range...
Suzuki Swift. Arriving June.
A small B-segment hatchback competing against the Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz. It's offered overseas with a 1.3, 1.5 or 1.6 petrol engine and a 1.3 diesel.
Suzuki SX4. Arriving June.
A crossover hatch that, sizewise, falls between sub-compacts such as the Chevrolet Aveo/Kia Rio and larger hatches such as the Toyota Auris.
It has a slightly raised ride height, which is where the "crossover" part comes in, will at first be offered with front-wheel drive only.
Suzuki Jimny. Arriving September.
A small all-wheel drive to replace the former Samurai. It will have a 1.3-litre, quad-valve petrol engine and offer a cheap 'n cheerful entry to 4x4 ownership.
Suzuki Grand Vitara.
Arriving September. A compact 4x4 SUV in the Hyundai Santa Fe class with a ladder-frame chassis/unibody structure. Expect a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder and a 3.2-litre six.