http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012 ... -know.html
So its true! Suzuki in the near future will no longer be selling vehicles in the United States. Rather just motorcyles. Very sad to hear.
Suzuki files for Bankruptcy for North American Division.
Suzuki cars are not bad.
They just had poor management on both sides of the Pacific.
ASMC had terrible marketing and management while Suzuki Motor Corp of Japan simply ignored the American market's needs. Car corporations need to follow the market, not the opposite.
As much as I love my Kizashi, the car that Suzuki should have brought to the US was not the Kizashi, but the Swift and Swift Sport.
The midsize segment is rather overcrowded in the US with venerable cars like the Camry and Accord. Relatively new comers like the Sonata have done well, but mainly due to design and lower price. Good marketing also helped a lot.
Suzuki should have instead given us what they do best globally, the small car.
American consumers are more and more driving smaller, cheaper cars.
Mini has done well for itself since coming to the US. Cars like the Fiesta, Yaris, Fit, Sonic/Aveo, etc. are all increasing in popularity and sales.
Suzuki basically made the best one (Swift) way ahead of the competition, yet they did not bring it. This is what I am talking about in terms of poor management and decision making. Instead, Suzuki spent over 1 billion dollars developing the Kizashi and then counted on it to revive sales in the US.
They should have just brought the Swift. It's already internationally acclaimed and it used to be sold in the US decades ago.
Once Suzuki was back on track with brand recognition from sales, that is when they should have brought the Kizashi over.
Instead, they did the opposite. They fizzled out here before they could even bring the Swift over. (US-spec Swifts were rumored to be tested in Japan.)
They just had poor management on both sides of the Pacific.
ASMC had terrible marketing and management while Suzuki Motor Corp of Japan simply ignored the American market's needs. Car corporations need to follow the market, not the opposite.
As much as I love my Kizashi, the car that Suzuki should have brought to the US was not the Kizashi, but the Swift and Swift Sport.
The midsize segment is rather overcrowded in the US with venerable cars like the Camry and Accord. Relatively new comers like the Sonata have done well, but mainly due to design and lower price. Good marketing also helped a lot.
Suzuki should have instead given us what they do best globally, the small car.
American consumers are more and more driving smaller, cheaper cars.
Mini has done well for itself since coming to the US. Cars like the Fiesta, Yaris, Fit, Sonic/Aveo, etc. are all increasing in popularity and sales.
Suzuki basically made the best one (Swift) way ahead of the competition, yet they did not bring it. This is what I am talking about in terms of poor management and decision making. Instead, Suzuki spent over 1 billion dollars developing the Kizashi and then counted on it to revive sales in the US.
They should have just brought the Swift. It's already internationally acclaimed and it used to be sold in the US decades ago.
Once Suzuki was back on track with brand recognition from sales, that is when they should have brought the Kizashi over.
Instead, they did the opposite. They fizzled out here before they could even bring the Swift over. (US-spec Swifts were rumored to be tested in Japan.)
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
They should have re-branded under a new name like Toyota did with Scion. At least within the North American market.
If that was done and they put out amazing cars like they Kizashi, they would have done well.
Look how Kia built their brand over the past few years.
If that was done and they put out amazing cars like they Kizashi, they would have done well.
Look how Kia built their brand over the past few years.
2011 Kizashi SX