SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Jan. 17, 2025 – Suzuki, the renowned Japanese automaker, has defied market trends by achieving sales growth in Germany despite a shrinking model portfolio. In 2024, the company recorded 25,566 new passenger car registrations, marking a 1.8 percent increase year-on-year, while the overall German car market declined by 1.0 percent. This impressive performance has secured Suzuki a 0.9 percent market share in the country.
Strategic Streamlining Leads to Success
Despite discontinuing popular models like the Ignis, Swift Sport, and Jimny, Suzuki managed to increase its sales in Germany. The new Swift played a pivotal role in offsetting the discontinuation of the Ignis, emerging as the best-selling Suzuki model with 9,093 units sold, a remarkable 45.7 percent increase. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the seventh-generation Swift only launched in April 2024. Following closely behind were the Vitara compact SUV with 6,168 units and the Ignis, which achieved 6,004 new registrations in its final sales year.
Focus on Compact Mobility
"Our focus on compact mobility as a counter-design to ever-larger vehicles is paying off," says Daniel Schnell, Deputy Managing Director of Suzuki Deutschland GmbH. "We were able to repeat the good result from the previous year and even slightly increase it despite the challenging market conditions in 2024. The new Swift is a clear commitment to compact cars and its success confirms that we are on the right track with our model and technology strategy. The new e-VITARA, which is expected to be launched in the second half of 2025, fits seamlessly into this strategy: Our first all-electric vehicle combines the traditional strengths of the Suzuki brand with an advanced electric drive, making electromobility accessible to a wider range of customers."
e-VITARA: Electrifying the Future
The new Suzuki e-VITARA is set to make waves in the electric vehicle market. Built on a platform specifically designed for the brand's battery-electric models, the e-VITARA will be offered in two battery versions: 49 kWh and 61 kWh. (Note: The Suzuki e-VITARA is not yet available for sale. Homologation and fuel consumption determination for the German version will take place immediately before market launch.) The smaller battery is paired with front-wheel drive, while the 61 kWh version offers optional "ALLGRIP-e" electric all-wheel drive, featuring an additional electric motor on the rear axle. Production of this compact SUV will commence in spring 2025 at the Suzuki plant in Gujarat, India.
Expanding Network, Growing Reach
Suzuki's success is also attributed to the strategic expansion of its dealer network. In 2024, 16 new sales locations were opened, including many dealerships that have added Suzuki to their brand portfolio. Existing dealers also expanded their reach by establishing Suzuki at additional locations.
This expansion has allowed Suzuki to establish a presence in key cities like Cologne, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Bremen, Halle (Saale), and Jena, filling important gaps in the network. Furthermore, the brand has strengthened its regional presence in cities like Landshut, Lüneburg, and Ansbach. New partners have been found for Bad Kreuznach, Geldern, and Gornau, ensuring seamless continuity and expansion of market and customer support following the retirement of previous dealers.
With this robust network of new and existing partners, which form a cornerstone of Suzuki's distribution strategy, the company is confident in its ability to reach new customer segments and increase its market share in Germany in the coming years.