Suzuki 2004 Annual Report Download - page 6

TWINWAGON R
AUTOMOBILES
The Japanese Market
Performance in the Japanese domestic market
Total domestic sales of automobiles in fiscal year 2003 remained mostly unchanged in volume from the year before, totaling
5,890,543 units, 100% of the previous year. Sales of mini vehicles increased to 1,861,231 units, 102% of the previous year.
The number of registered units (automobiles excluding mini vehicles), remained at a similar level to the year before, at
4,029,312 units, 100% of the previous year.
Suzuki's total domestic automobile sales in 2003 amounted to 634,484 units, dropping slightly to 99% of the previous year. With a
domestic market share of 10.8%, Suzuki was the fourth largest out of the thirteen domestic auto manufacturers.
Sales status
(1) Although the mini-vehicle market has continued to maintain a high capacity exceeding 1.8 million units ever since
regulatory standards were revised, further large growth is not expected to be sustainable, and competition among
manufacturers is prospected to intensify. Under such circumstances, Suzuki actively took measures during 2003 to promote
sales, including introducing a full model change for our main model - the Wagon R - as well as bringing in several minor change
models. In addition, special edition models were added to the line-up and as a result sales totaled 569,873 units, 99% of the
previous year. This meant that once again Suzuki retained the largest market share for mini vehicles during fiscal 2003 - a
position Suzuki has solidly maintained for 31 consecutive years.
(2) Suzuki's sales volume for registered vehicles was 64,611 units (106% of the previous year), exceeding the preceding
year's figures for the fourth consecutive year and continuing to register steady growth. The driving force behind the growth
was the favorable sales marked by the Swift - whose product competitiveness was boosted by the addition of a special edition
together with a price review - and the Chevrolet Cruze, a model jointly developed with General Motors. Suzuki's growth from
the previous year in the small and subcompact vehicle market stands in contrast to other makers, who mostly saw declines
from the previous year.
(3) The "Suzuki Free Auto Inspection Campaign,"- a popular sales promotion conducted each year, was continued for another
year.
Individual model topics
(1) Suzuki's aggregate domestic sales of mini vehicles reached 15 million units in January 2004.
(2) The Wagon R, Suzuki's number one main model, underwent a full model change in September 2003, and in December
2003 aggregate domestic sales reached two million units - just 10 years and four months after its introduction.
(3) Sales of the Wagon R amounted to 188,498 units. The Wagon R came out top in the number of newly registered mini
vehicles during fiscal year 2003.
(4) The Carry Truck was once again the best-selling model of the year in fiscal year 2003 in the all-truck segment, making it the
number-one seller for the 33rd consecutive year.
(5) Models that underwent a minor change include the Grand Escudo, Lapin, Aerio, Aerio Sedan, Swift, Twin and MR wagon.
(6) The Chevrolet Cruze also underwent a minor change. Importing and sales of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet
JIMNY
AERIO (Export name: LIANA)
WAGON R+ (manufactured at Magyar
Suzuki Corp. in Hungary)
SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION

5
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Trailblazer EXT and Chevrolet Astro
started from January 2004.
(7) Annual production at Sagara
Plant, Suzuki's manufacturing plant
for automobile engines, in March
2003 reached a volume of one million
units. The entire production process
from casting, machining to assembly
is carried out at the Sagara Plant, and
the engines produced at the plant are
all state-of-the-art, high-performance,
all-aluminum engines.