The humble Suzuki Swift keeps on kicking goals for Suzuki New Zealand, with the brand confirming ongoing strong sales for the subcompact hatch.
In a statement Suzuki’s local arm said that the nameplate has seen a 29.0% lift in sales year-to-date compared to the same period last year. This is impressive according to the brand, as overall sales across the market are only up 1.5%.
Unsurprisingly, this has led to a growth in the Swift’s market share in the light car segment. According to Suzuki, it owns a 32.1% slice of the market; up from 30.1% this time last year and enough to give it the class lead.
“Consumers like the light controls, responsiveness and fun factor of the iconic and good looking Swift,” said Gary Collins, General Manager of Motor Vehicle Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand Ltd.
“As with other Suzuki models they also have an impressive reputation for reliability and they appreciate the Swift’s 5-Star ANCAP safety rating across all the automatic versions.”
Beyond the Swift, Suzuki says it’s also seen growth in Jimny deliveries. Year-to-date, the plucky off-roader’s sales are up 11.8% in spite of the small SUV market being down 12.1% according to Suzuki.
The brand as a whole saw a 36.1% lift in sales in October “with a strong demand for all models”.
While the brand does not mention supply in its release detailing the Swift’s popularity, inconsistent supply has likely been a factor behind the significant fluctuations in deliveries for certain models.
Although Suzuki has yet to debut a fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle as part of its local line-up, the brand boasts that it is “one of the cleanest new vehicle brands in New Zealand”.
