Archive for Suzuki

As the result of the new CBU and CKD car tax structure and gazetted CBU pricelist under the new National Automotive Policy, prices for the CBU Suzuki Swift and CBU Suzuki APV have gone up. To make up for the price increase, Suzuki has added bodykits as standard options for both the Swift and APV. The price for the Suzuki Grand Vitara remains the same. Here’s the new prices.

The price of the Suzuki Swift 1.5 (A) baseline without leather seats and tinting has actually gone up by quite a bit, but don’t worry as manufacturing of CKD Suzuki Swift cars is expected to begin in 2007. Tax on CKD cars are not as high as CBU cars, so you will be able to enjoy a cheaper but locally assembled Suzuki Swift next year.

DRB-HICOM plans to aggresively start CKD operations following the announcement of the National Automotive Policy in order to capitalise on new opportunities and incentives that arise directly or indirectly through the new policy. DRB-HICOM’s company Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd has already signed a contract with Suzuki Motors to assemble the Suzuki Swift as a CKD here, and is currently in talks with General Motors Asia Pacific to begin assembling certain Chevrolet models here in Malaysia. I would think the most likely models would be the Chevrolet Aveo and the Chevrolet Optra. However there was no timeline stated for the Chevrolet CKD operations.

DRB-HICOM is also undergoing a VSS (Voluntary Separation Scheme) exercise to cut down it’s workforce to something leaner. Currently it employs about 28,000 people and does not require that much to be operational, especially at the headquarters. The headquarters alone employs 340 employees and this is seen to be too much. It is offering 1.5 months salary compensation for every year served with the company. Rumours are that Datuk Abd Rashid Abd Rahim, group director services; Riduwan Shaari, chief executive officer of DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd, Datuk Mohd Nor Mohamad, senior group director of legal affairs and corporate governance, and Datuk Wan Ghaffar Ahmad, chief executive officer of Malaysian Trucks and Bus Sdn Bhd have tendered their resignations.

DRB-HICOM is also rumoured to be taking over AV Ventures Corp Bhd, a producer of automotive components listed on the second board.

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[ UPDATE: Click here to read a test drive report of the new locally assembled Suzuki Swift! ]

[ UPDATE: The locally assembled Suzuki Swift CKD has been launched in Malaysia and goes for RM71,943.50 for the normal version and RM78,099.50 for the Swift Premier. Click here for more details. ]

The popular hot hatch by Suzuki, the Suzuki Swift will appear on Malaysian shores in CKD form by Q1 2007. The Suzuki Swift has been in Malaysia in CBU (fully-imported) form since May 2005, and has enjoyed monthly sales of about 300 units before Suzuki encountered hiccups with the AP system, causing imported Suzuki Swift cars to be stuck at the port.

Suzuki and DRB-HICOM’s subsidiary Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd who will be assembling the cars signed an agreement on the 17th of March 2006, allowing DRB-HICOM’s SMA to non-exclusively assemble CKD kits for the Suzuki Swift for 4 years for the ASEAN market.

There are many many people I know who really like the Suzuki Swift, however are put off by it’s high price as it’s a fully imported CBU car. The CKD version will most definitely be cheaper, and it’s 1.5 liter DOHC engine’s frugal fuel consumption will probably be a favourite in these times of high petrol prices. Coupled with it’s hot MINI-like looks, relatively large interior space in it’s class, easy parking and a cheaper CKD price, I think we’ve got ourselves a winner. The Hyundai Getz and the Chevrolet Aveo has some serious new competition in 2007.

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GM is going on a share dumping spree. It previously unloaded Subaru shares partly to Toyota and the rest onto the open market. It’s recent stake dump is in the form of Suzuki Motor Corp shares. Suzuki Motor Corp and General Motors recently engaged a 17% share buyback transaction worth USD$1.96 billion. Most of the transaction is complete.

This is part of GM’s efforts to raise cash to continue operating and execute it’s turnaround plans after losing USD$8.6 billion last year. GM will continue to hold about 3% stake in Suzuki Motors after the transaction is complete.

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This is Suzukis’ SX4 WRC Concept. I previously blogged about the third in Suzuki’s new trio of cars the Suzuki SX4 here. The four wheel drive equipped Suzuki SX4 is a joint-venture together with Fiat, which will produce the same car as the Fiat Sedici. More details at the original 2007 Suzuki SX4 blog post.

Suzuki has announced the third of a series of new models, joining the Swift and Grand Vitara. The SX4 is the Grand Vitara’s ‘little brother’ and it’s platform is a joint venture development with Fiat. Fiat’s model is called the Fiat Sedici.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Suzuki SX4

The Suzuki LC Concept is a K-car concept designed to target the segment that loves the Austin Mini’s design cues, much alike the Daihatsu Mira Gino.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki LC Concept

This concept has been christened a strange name. This is the Suzuki Mom’s Personal Wagon.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki Mom’s Personal Wagon

Suzuki unveiled this interesting automotive work of art at the Tokyo Motor Show 2005. This concept car is called the Suzuki IONIS.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki IONIS

The Suzuki Swift is a zippy little car that’s on our shores in CBU form. Now the fun little car is going to get even more fun!

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki used to conquer the mini SUV market with their Suzuki Vitara, before the Perodua Kembara came along. I remember getting into a Vitara once. Bloody small. Suzuki has since gone missing in the Malaysian market until the return of the CBU Suzuki Swift and Suzuki APV this year. But we’ve not yet seen any replacement for the Vitara. Some new Grand Vitaras have been running around but they’re not really making much of an impact.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki Concept X2 SUV

Suzuki Malaysia launched it’s second model, the Suzuki APV (All Purpose Vehicle) here on Thursday. The Suzuki APV is a 8-seater small rear-wheel drive MPV that runs on a 1.6 aluminium block long stroke engine making 92hp.

Click here to read the rest of New people mover for Malaysia: Suzuki APV