I know its been a while, atleast I was correct on Saab lol
http://www.leftlanenews.com/suzuki-continues-to-lose-u-s-sales-dealers.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/suzuki-continues-to-lose-u-s-sales-dealers.html
Bye Bye Suzuki
CTZX3
21 - 29 of 29 Posts
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As the owner of two Suzukis (a '95 Sidekick 4x4 and a '10 SX4 AWD), I truly hate this. I've had a mild obsession with Suzuki's business case here in the U.S. for years, as it's been an odd one. However, I've been drawn to their products since they were making the Chevrolet Sprint Turbo in the 1980s. I finally took the plunge in 2009 and bought an SX4 AWD with a manual transmission. I actually traded it in on a 2010 with the newer engine and six-speed (again with AWD) about two years ago. The car has been great. Love the AWD capability and love the fact it's a manual transmission and it's small. Mileage isn't bad, it's practical, and I like the looks. Really, no complaints ... except for one.
It looks like the writing is on the wall (as I wrote on my blog) for Suzuki. I interviewed their PR guy in February. He said to have faith in the brand. However, it's hard to have faith when there hasn't been any reason to believe they're sticking around. Where's the press releases stating that they're committed to the U.S. market? Where's a glimmer of info about the '13 lineup (other than the announcement about a pairing with Garmin for an infotainment system)?
In fact, in the latest article about Suzuki in the New York Times (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/suzuki-going-places-elsewhere-but-not-in-america/), when asked about whether they're leaving the country, their PR Manager is quoted as saying, "I’d have to check with our executives on a response, but I assume they would not have a comment." In other words, it sounds as if management isn't telling its employees what's going on, or at least it seems that way. I've been told Suzuki is very hush-hush on nearly everything. I've had people at Suzuki tell me that they don't know about new products much earlier than the consumers. But really, now's the time to let people know what's going on, assuming they are not giving up on the USDM.
Anyway, since my SX4 has a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty (as well as about half of its 36,000 mile warranty left), if Suzuki pulls out of the U.S. (which certainly seems apparent), what will those of us do if we need service? I'm not talking about piddly stuff. I'm talking about if my engine needs to be replaced at 70,000 miles (still in the powertrain warranty), or if the electromagnetic rear differential coupling system fails?
I look at brands that have folded in recent automotive history. SAAB. Saturn. Oldsmobile. Isuzu. Plymouth. Mercury. What do all these marques have in common? They're all tied GM, Chrysler, or Ford, respectively. Therefore, they all have at least somewhere that would do warranty work, since they're all owned by a parent company. I don't know what Daewoo (GM?) or Daihatsu owners did, and I don't know what Suzuki owners would do.
The Suzuki dealer network is rapidly shrinking. The Salem, Oregon Suzuki vendor, Power Suzuki, recently stopped selling cars (they still sell other makes). That leaves two dealers in the Portland metro, and I know for a fact, one of them only sells a couple of Suzukis a month (150 of Suzuki's remaining 246 dealers still sell five or fewer new cars per month according to Automotive News), instead mostly dealing with used cars and Suzuki service. If both Portland Metro dealers were to close, I'd have a 350 mile round-trip drive to my nearest Suzuki dealer. Mind you, I'm not one that goes to the dealership often; quite the contrary. I only bring a car to the dealer if there is a major issue and the warranty is going to cover it. However, heaven forbid I have to use my aforementioned 100,000 powertrain warranty if there are no dealers to do the work.
I really like my SX4 a lot. It's quite literally the most perfect car on the market for my wife and me at the moment. However, I'm concerned that I'm going to be left high and dry with a vehicle that isn't serviceable (nor salable) if the company pulls out. Darn shame, since the SX4 and Kizashi are both good cars. It's even more of a shame Suzuki can't figure a way to import some of the cars it's best known for across the globe, such as the Jimny 4x4 (a miniature Wrangler fighter) and of course the internationally acclaimed Suzuki Swift—one of the few Suzukis Americans have begged for.
You know, the '12 Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium is looking pretty good these days ...
It looks like the writing is on the wall (as I wrote on my blog) for Suzuki. I interviewed their PR guy in February. He said to have faith in the brand. However, it's hard to have faith when there hasn't been any reason to believe they're sticking around. Where's the press releases stating that they're committed to the U.S. market? Where's a glimmer of info about the '13 lineup (other than the announcement about a pairing with Garmin for an infotainment system)?
In fact, in the latest article about Suzuki in the New York Times (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/suzuki-going-places-elsewhere-but-not-in-america/), when asked about whether they're leaving the country, their PR Manager is quoted as saying, "I’d have to check with our executives on a response, but I assume they would not have a comment." In other words, it sounds as if management isn't telling its employees what's going on, or at least it seems that way. I've been told Suzuki is very hush-hush on nearly everything. I've had people at Suzuki tell me that they don't know about new products much earlier than the consumers. But really, now's the time to let people know what's going on, assuming they are not giving up on the USDM.
Anyway, since my SX4 has a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty (as well as about half of its 36,000 mile warranty left), if Suzuki pulls out of the U.S. (which certainly seems apparent), what will those of us do if we need service? I'm not talking about piddly stuff. I'm talking about if my engine needs to be replaced at 70,000 miles (still in the powertrain warranty), or if the electromagnetic rear differential coupling system fails?
I look at brands that have folded in recent automotive history. SAAB. Saturn. Oldsmobile. Isuzu. Plymouth. Mercury. What do all these marques have in common? They're all tied GM, Chrysler, or Ford, respectively. Therefore, they all have at least somewhere that would do warranty work, since they're all owned by a parent company. I don't know what Daewoo (GM?) or Daihatsu owners did, and I don't know what Suzuki owners would do.
The Suzuki dealer network is rapidly shrinking. The Salem, Oregon Suzuki vendor, Power Suzuki, recently stopped selling cars (they still sell other makes). That leaves two dealers in the Portland metro, and I know for a fact, one of them only sells a couple of Suzukis a month (150 of Suzuki's remaining 246 dealers still sell five or fewer new cars per month according to Automotive News), instead mostly dealing with used cars and Suzuki service. If both Portland Metro dealers were to close, I'd have a 350 mile round-trip drive to my nearest Suzuki dealer. Mind you, I'm not one that goes to the dealership often; quite the contrary. I only bring a car to the dealer if there is a major issue and the warranty is going to cover it. However, heaven forbid I have to use my aforementioned 100,000 powertrain warranty if there are no dealers to do the work.
I really like my SX4 a lot. It's quite literally the most perfect car on the market for my wife and me at the moment. However, I'm concerned that I'm going to be left high and dry with a vehicle that isn't serviceable (nor salable) if the company pulls out. Darn shame, since the SX4 and Kizashi are both good cars. It's even more of a shame Suzuki can't figure a way to import some of the cars it's best known for across the globe, such as the Jimny 4x4 (a miniature Wrangler fighter) and of course the internationally acclaimed Suzuki Swift—one of the few Suzukis Americans have begged for.
You know, the '12 Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium is looking pretty good these days ...
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1,211 Posts
that really stinks. my mom has had two and had no troubles at all with them (sx4 awd and a grand vitara) i kind of wouldnt hate to have a sx4 sportback fwd, i wonder what this would mean for the warranty work on them? i also would have been all over the recvent swifts if they were offered here.
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4,524 Posts
By law there has to be a Suzuki service department open through the warranty period of the last car sold. There has to be one every 200 miles or something like that.
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119 Posts
I'd be shocked if there were 1 every 200 miles now..
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5,270 Posts
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/american-suzuki-motors-files-chapter-11-will-no-longer-sell-car/
Bye Bye......
I was correct on Saab, now Suzuki, next Mitsubishi
As much as we knew it was a possibility, we have to say that Suzuki's announcement this afternoon that it is filing chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings caught us a bit off guard. American Suzuki Motor Corporation - the sole distributor of Suzuki automobiles in the United States - will realign its business to focus on motorcycles, ATVs and the marine market.
What does this mean in simple terms? In short, new Suzuki cars and trucks will no longer be sold by Suzuki in the United States once current supplies run out. Period.
Suzuki cites "low sales volumes, a limited number of models in its lineup, unfavorable foreign exchange rates, the high costs associated with growing and maintaining an automotive distribution system in the continental US and the disproportionally high and increasing costs associated with stringent state and federal regulatory requirements unique to the US market."
Motorcycles, ATVs and watercraft will not be affected. Current owners of Suzuki cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles will have their warranties honored, and parts will reportedly be made available. Suzuki will continue to sell automobiles in other countries, naturally, including its home market of Japan.
Read the complete announcement from Suzuki below, and check out this official website set up by Suzuki for current owners.
Bye Bye......
I was correct on Saab, now Suzuki, next Mitsubishi
As much as we knew it was a possibility, we have to say that Suzuki's announcement this afternoon that it is filing chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings caught us a bit off guard. American Suzuki Motor Corporation - the sole distributor of Suzuki automobiles in the United States - will realign its business to focus on motorcycles, ATVs and the marine market.
What does this mean in simple terms? In short, new Suzuki cars and trucks will no longer be sold by Suzuki in the United States once current supplies run out. Period.
Suzuki cites "low sales volumes, a limited number of models in its lineup, unfavorable foreign exchange rates, the high costs associated with growing and maintaining an automotive distribution system in the continental US and the disproportionally high and increasing costs associated with stringent state and federal regulatory requirements unique to the US market."
Motorcycles, ATVs and watercraft will not be affected. Current owners of Suzuki cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles will have their warranties honored, and parts will reportedly be made available. Suzuki will continue to sell automobiles in other countries, naturally, including its home market of Japan.
Read the complete announcement from Suzuki below, and check out this official website set up by Suzuki for current owners.
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