Suzuki revealed details earlier this month of today’s press conference.
Though the automaker did not unveil any new vehicles at the show, it shared what has been a spectacular year for the feisty automaker, receiving accolades on its all-new Kizashi sedan and sales growth even through recession. States Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president of American Suzuki’s Automotive Operations, “The sales increase is attributed to stronger products and AWD/4WD availability across the model lineup. Furthermore, we are extremely optimistic that our new marketing campaign will help consumers take notice of Suzuki’s newest addition, the 2011 Kizashi Sport.”
The Suzuki Kizashi received AutoPacific’s “Vehicle Satisfaction Award” in the categories of Top Ranked Vehicle, Car, and Midsize car. The sedan was also a finalist for the North American Car of the Year. Suzuki saw an over 35 percent increase in sales in the last quarter of 2010 compared to the same time in 2009. Suzuki, already popular among car enthusiasts, got a big boost in its reputation in Motor Trend’s Tokyo to LA: The Hard Way where the Motor Trend team took two Kizashi sedans, a Suzuki Equator pickup truck, and a Suzuki motorcycle from Japan, through Russia, Alaska, Canada, and finally California, U.S.
The full press release can be found below.
AMERICAN SUZUKI CELEBRATES 2010,
HIGHLIGHTED BY SUCCESSFUL END-OF-YEAR SALES TURNAROUND
Company poised to build on momentum going forward into 2011
BREA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2011) – Finishing off the final quarter of 2010 with three consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases, numerous product awards and a storm of innovative marketing initiatives, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is positioned for even greater success in the upcoming year. Spearheaded by the extremely well-received Kizashi sedan, Suzuki earned a multitude of accolades and achieved numerous honors in 2010.
“American Suzuki has definitely built some momentum for 2011 with four successive year-over-year sales increases since October 2010,” said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president of American Suzuki’s Automotive Operations. “The sales increase is attributed to stronger products and AWD/4WD availability across the model lineup. Furthermore, we are extremely optimistic that our new marketing campaign will help consumers take notice of Suzuki’s newest addition, the 2011 Kizashi Sport.”
Award-winning Product
Suzuki Kizashi
- AutoPacific, “Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA)” as Top Ranked Vehicle, Top Ranked Car, and Top Ranked Midsize car.
- Consumers Digest, Best Buy designation (awarded to 2011 Kizashi).
- 2010 Puerto Rico International Auto Show, “Sedan of the Year.”
- Edmunds.com, “Best Dark Horse Cars of the Year” and “Top Recommended Vehicles Under $20,000 for 2010.”
- U.S. News and World Report, “Five Affordable Cars That Make You Look Rich.”
- Time magazine, “Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010.”
- Auto A Fondo, “Top Ten for 2010.”
- North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) finalist.
Suzuki SX4 Crossover
- Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com), “2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars” and “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000.”
- Consumer Reports, “Best Cars Under $20,000.”
- AutoWeek, “10 Best Snow Cars.”
Sales Momentum
- Four consecutive year-over-year monthly increases (October 2010 – 17 percent; November 2010 – 51 percent; December 2010 – 40 percent; January 2011 – 26 percent).
- 36 percent sales increase in Q4 of 2010 in comparison to the same period one year ago.
Marketing/Publicity/Advertising
- Bonneville Salt Flats – On Aug. 18, the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville Special broke the land speed record in the Blown Gas Coupe (F-BGC) category with a speed of 203.720 miles per hour at Bonneville Speed Week (http://www.suzukiauto.com/allpoints/events/bonneville/).
- Tokyo to LA: The Hard Way – On Sept. 8, the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi completed a two-continent, four country (Japan, Russia, Canada, U.S.) 7,500 mile road trip from Tokyo to LA. Part two of this journey has commenced on a U.S. cross-country trek, where the Kizashi will travel another 7,000 miles, hitting Detroit, Chicago and New York City in conjunction with the 2011 auto show season.
- Kizashi™ Ring of Fire iPad/iPhone App – In December, Suzuki launched the Kizashi™ Ring of Fire racing app, bringing its popular online game (http://facebook.com/suzukauto) to life for both the iPad and iPhone. To download the free app, visit the App Store and search “Suzuki.”
- Suzuki’s new “Kizashi Kicks” ad campaign drives the point that you don’t need a premium badge to have premium-level handling, safety and luxury features. The campaign is comprised of three 30-second and two 15-second television commercials that feature the Kizashi taking on competitors from Mercedes, Audi and Volvo. Each spot is humorous in nature, but strongly delivers the core message that the Kizashi is every bit a premium level sedan as these higher-priced automobiles. The broadcast television advertisements are complemented by a highly interactive microsite, www.KizashiKicks.com, which showcases the new commercial content and provides interactive animation, videos and a suggestion tool for feedback.
2011 Suzuki Auto Product Line
Suzuki Auto’s versatile line of vehicles includes the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack athletic hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equator pickup truck and performance-oriented Kizashi and new-for-2011 Kizashi Sport. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki’s standout virtues of durability, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2011 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America’s #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.
AboutSuzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 byparent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 300 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states.With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan,SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions.Suzuki can be found on Twitter (@SuzukiAuto), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/SuzukiAutomotive).
via Suzuki
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