You might be able to get your hands on a new fourth-gen Suzuki Jimny in the near future, and through official channels at that, if what being indicated by a news report is right. Apparently, plans are afoot to reintroduce Suzuki in Malaysia, with Berjaya Group – which previously held the local Mazda franchise before Bermaz Auto took over the brand – expected to be named as the new distributor, according to the New Straits Times.
Sources revealed to the publication that Tan Sri Vincent Tan is slated to head to Japan next month to ink a distributorship agreement with the automaker, with Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki expected to witness the signing at the company’s headquarters in Hamamatsu.
The brand was last represented in Malaysia by Suzuki Malaysia Automobile, with local assembly of the Swift hatchback being carried out by Hicom Automotive Manufacturers in Pekan, Pahang.
In June 2015, Suzuki signed a memorandum of understanding and licence agreement with Proton and DRB-Hicom for the production of motor vehicles. Sales and assembly of Suzuki models in Malaysia were halted under a rationalisation plan, and in January 2016 it was announced that all 29 Suzuki dealerships in the country would be converted to Proton Edar outlets, ending the brand’s official sales presence in the country.
The collaboration was to have allowed Proton access to Suzuki’s models, platforms, powertrain and automotive technology, with the Japanese carmaker providing specific technical assistance for the selected products and scope, but the union resulted only in the Proton Ertiga being introduced for the Malaysian market. The MPV, which is based on the Suzuki Ertiga, was last seen in Ertiga Xtra form.
It was not revealed in the report what plans there were for local assembly or which models would be involved, should this be the case.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
This is the best news about cars this year…! : D
DRB-HICOM did a boo boo dismantling Suzuki dealerships nationwide.
Will the former dealership owners get to choose to go back selling Suzuki cars…? What will happen to P1 Ertiga… my guess is they pass it back to Suzuki since P1 is coming up with a smaller crossover and smaller MPV with Geely.
Ertiga production already stop
Berjaya Hyundai laku keras.
Berjaya Mazda laku keras.
Berjaya Suzuki…
Hyundai is by sime darby
Consumers should be happy ,now there r more choices.The pie is getting smaller for the car distributors.
Lets see what Tan Sri brings in.
Joint as third natuonal car also ok, as long as price affordable.to most Malaysian. Hopefully can bring in the Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4turbo…
Drb-hicom also founded air asia. remember that. But they couldn’t make money out of it and sold it to tony and friends for RM1.
Bermaz already mess up Mazda brand with high prices, now they will mess up Suzuki also.
After hearing Mazda 3 is RM160k, Malaysians have vowed not to look at Mazda again.
Hidup Berjaya! Minyak murah, Suzuki murah!!
Hoo yea! Suzuki is back! Love Suzuki Swift(s)! Hope that Berjaya will bring in the Boosterjet Turbo 1.0L engine! Full of hope… Pray…
Despite all the catcalls here for the Swift, as a ZC32S owner myself I must admit that the regular Swift wouldn’t do well here anymore, because the current local made supermini crop has indeed kinda caught up in the quality and performance departments.
However, what will be interesting to introduce here, imo, will be the Ignis, as a spiritual replacement of the still mighty popular Kenari. It’s actually selling pretty well in Australia and India.
My dream Suzuki lineup: Ignis 75K, Jimny 90k, Swift Sport 110k, Vitara 130k.
Suzuki is good! But Fiat, Skoda…
Chevrolet and Alfa good too…
Indeed the best of the best news!
I also hope that they will bring back the game changing carmakers that you said. That way, Proton will have more game changing competitors to compete
DRB should keep Suzuki in the 1st place, sigh.
Long waited news. Looking forward to the latest Suzuki Ertiga. Biggest challenge would be after sales service network.
We need Suzuki Swift CKD ASAP…
Too horny at lateat Jimny so plan to bring back Suzuki yah? Lols. If bring in the hot hatchback Suzuki Swift will sell like hot cake. And dont forget Vitara is a very good choice for small family n ladies driver, practical in size.
i hope berjaya wont price suzuki as a premium brand ^^
all models price near RM100k
The sales of ertiga, swift, vitara, ignis and jimny in mesia is enough to shake up p1 n p2 sales.
With a RM200k small SUV? Good luck with that. Mazda is failing under their care and they want to bring on another brand?
This is music to my ears. Hope the swift will be back with the swift sport turbo, Jimny and maybe the Solio Bandit. Maybe some suzuki commercial vans and trucks for the mass market.
Long live Swift Sport & Jimny!
Habislah Berjaya will sell the models with high price tag. Just like what happen to Mazda.
I hope to see Fiat again too!
Skoda & Alfa Romeo should make a comeback in Malaysia!!
I hope to see Fiat again too!
B ke, S ke, N ke.. to me all macam sama je.. cut spec, high price, less focus on safety feature..
Skoda maybe. But as mush as I like the other 2, I don’t think its worth it from a business standpoint.
Did the Ertiga Xtra even exist?
Would love to get the new Jimny! Put on big wheels and walla!
swift sport and jimny!
Thank you BerSu Auto for new swift n vitara please.
Suzuki previously been screwed by P1. Suzuki initially thought that P1 will use their chasis after ertiga. After Suzuki sold all their 3S to P1, P1 sold to Geely. Pity Suzuki
It didn’t get screwed, in fact Suzuki got a sweet deal. P1 paid Suzuki good money for the Ertiga and dealerships. Suzuki sales was already declining year on year at the time due to uncompetitive pricing and limited service networks.
Yes!!! Bring in the Vitara and Swift Sport.
Overpriced Suzuki (under V.Tan), here we come!
Bermaz’s price is escalating and they think they are selling premium Japanese cars.
If Suzuki is sold under them, I don’t have a high hope that Jimny will be sold under RM100K like Indonesia, look at the price in Thai market. Sweat!
If any indication, the previous Jimmy was already selling for 80k. The new one will indeed be near to 100k if launch here.
I think so too. If Bermaz got the franchise, the new Jimny will suddenly be a ‘luxury vehicle’ as with its other models.
Not to forget the spare parts and services will also be ‘premium’.
Just look at what happened to Mazda. Suddenly it is a ‘premiumim’ brand under Bermaz. A good marketing strategy to steal your hard earned money.
No thanks.
Looks like we have suzuki back on our menu guys
Suzuki cars are cheap in Japan…but once they are in Mesia….surely carry a big price tag. Regardless who is holding the franchise.
Bermaz, ring any bell??
Great. Waiting for Suzuki swift to return.
So previous Proton & Suzuki MoU only able to product Ertiga?
Suzuki has some nice products, but is Berjaya willing to price it down reasonably for local consumer?
Then ask Berjaya to JV with Suzuki and rebadge existing Suzuki car into new national car.
See how they price Mazda cars? This Suzuki is just another profit milking brand for them. The interest is not to bring exciting cars for Malaysian ya. Remember that!
Yes, it is a business and not a charity. So, don’t hope for kindness. If you want it, be prepared to pay for it.
Good news to consumers. At least, we have one more choice regardless of the price. Hopefully Berjaya will manage it better than useless DRB-Hicom.
Bermaz is not even managing Mazda well, how would they have any chance with Suzuki?
All those r niche brands that many have tried and failed. Their cars bad reliability and exp spareparts r oso another reason why they failed.
YESS!!! GOOD NEWS!!!! please dont forget suzuki alto!!!! the latest one! square box! please! haha
Hope they learnt the lesson well after thinking Proton is a reliable party to work with. Won’t be surprise if Proton clowns badmouthing them now.
Why would they? We have you to do that for us.
Proton paid Suzuki a lot of money for the Ertiga platform and dealerships, so Suzuki didn’t suffer any loss like you claimed. Still better than P1 bashers like you that only spew hot air without facts to back up.
Yup, worst business decision of all time, hoping to work with a company that survives on protectionism.
https://paultan.org/2016/01/14/all-29-malaysian-suzuki-dealerships-are-now-proton-edar-outlets-sales-of-suzuki-brand-models-ended/
See so many ppl getting excited, not when u see Rm140k for jimny.
Please bring super cute Suzuki IGNIS. Nice for city driving and parking
CKD jimny with MT option please..
I still have suzuki swift 1.5 cbu..bought in at rm88k. Very good car and handling better than jazz
Me too, 12 years ownership never disappointed me.
A very good handling & reliable car.
GREAT NEWS!!
Opel cars as well.
Bermaz is short form for berjaya mazda. Berjaya vincent tan son in law is naza motor boss. No problems with import AP. Together with suzuki, they control mazda, peugeot, kia, ferrari, maserati.