Pop quiz: how many XL7s has Suzuki built at its CAMI plant this year? Answer: four. Seriously. Compare that with the 5,687 built in Q1 2008, and it’s pretty clear that there’s something rotten in the province of Ontario. Especially when you consider that GM is still using its CAMI capacity to pump out 2009-model Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent CUVs. According to the Financial Post, Suzuki will not be be building any more vehicles in North America in 2009. Which means ’09-built XL7s are set to become one of the rarest vehicles in the world. But the firm is committed to its CAMI plant, with CEO Osamu Suzuki telling the FP that “the possibility that CAMI would be forced into closure or a production stop is 120% impossible. It is a central pillar in the reconstruction plan, so I am not worried about it.” Which means CAMI should survive any GM bankruptcy. Suzuki may be sitting out the NA market in 2009 (while nursing its Indian market profits) but when it brings its CAMI capacity back online, it will likely be in support of its ambitious Kizashi mid-sized effort. Too bad, then, that the fanboys are already calling BS on Suzuki’s pledge to bring the Concept 3’s bold styling to the streets with the Kizashi.
I saw a Samurai the other day. Honestly that’s the only Suzuki model I could name if I were ever challenged. I didn’t even know they had a NA plant.
In other words, this news doesn’t surprise me.
Long as they keep making their motorcycles, I’m happy. Making motorcycles is what they really excel at.
I couldn’t tell you what/who the market base/target customer for Suzuki is. People who really, really want an off-brand?
If it was people who wanted cheap Japanese micro cars, it would make sense, but I don’t understand the rebadged Daewoos (on their way out) and the SUV things.
The really goofy thing is that Suzuki has its own SUV, the Grand Vitara, that is much better than the XL7.
The Grand Vitara comes with a longitudinal engine and is RWD based like a proper truck. It can be had with RWD, a five speed manual, and a 170 HP 2.4 liter inline-4 (plus ABS, 6 airbags, power windows and doors, etc.) for under $20K.
If Suzuki’s existence (in the US market) wasn’t in doubt, and dealers were more common, I would have to strongly consider it.
Getting rid of the Daewoos and the rebadged Chevy should be very good for Suzuki’s image and brand.
Old Guy Ben:
The Samurai is still alive, although renamed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Jimny
Only 4?… damn, that’s truly mass production…
Poor Cami, that plant just can’t win. There was a point years ago where everyone expected it to close because no one wanted a Metro/Sprint/Firefly/Swift or a Tracker and GM didn’t have any decent new models to bring in to replace it. Now it looks like the same situation. I used to drive by that plant and be amazed at the number of completed Trackers and Sprints in the parking lot.
no_slushbox : Getting rid of the Daewoos and the rebadged Chevy should be very good for Suzuki’s image and brand.
+1. Suzuki’s name has been tarnished by less than stellar models like the Reno and Verona. Meanwhile they’re very popular in their home market for their compact/mini offerings. If they’d just drop the XL-7 altogether, and get some of their own cars in showrooms, I think they’d have a good shot here. They’re certainly no worse than Hyundai or Kia, and I think that when gas goes back to $4+ a gallon, fuel efficient cars are going to get more attention. Suzuki could do quite well in that type of market.
I used to live a few miles from the GM plant in Arlington, TX.
That is a plant they have talked about closing many times, but somehow folks keep buying Tahoes and whatnot.
They are closing for the summer, we’ll see if they ever reopen…
Just keep the SX4s coming, Suzuki, and I’ll be happy.
The SX4 is a Fiat, right? Maybe Suzuki is about to lose it’s best model to Dodge.
Suzuki should have stuck to Motor Cycles, there name here in Canada has not been very good, the only thing that saved there butt was lower prices than others in the Ontario Market place!
@MrDot: This is what wikipedia has to say about the SX4: “The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car developed by Japanese and Italian automakers Suzuki and Fiat and produced since 2006. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Italdesign studio…”
So, to answer your question, sorta. Supposedly, 2/3 of the volume produced are to be sold as Suzukis.
My brother had a Geo Metro that he put over 200k miles on. My BIL had a Tracker. Both were very capable cars and did what they did well. The Metro got over 50 MPG highway and the tracker was a great beach buggy
Funny thing is, the XL7 was once a stretched out version of the Grand Vitara with a V6. How it ended up being FWD is something I want to find out about.
But yeah, Suzuki’s centre of competence in the US market is with motorcycles and ATVs.
# MrDot :
May 13th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
The SX4 is a Fiat, right? Maybe Suzuki is about to lose it’s best model to Dodge.
How many times will people bring up this misinformation?
The SX4 is a Suzuki. For the European market, Fiat provides a couple of diesel engines. Further, the Fiat Sedici is built in Magyar Suzuki’s plant. If any auto company is going to give up the SX4, it’s Fiat.
ETA: The Suzuki SX4s sold in the States are built by Suzuki, in Japan. Fiat is not at all involved in the NA SX4.
My buddy’s sister has worked at a local Suzuki dealership for at least a decade. It was highly successful in the past, but the owner is on the verge of closing all three of his Suzuki dealerships – his floorplan financing has already been pulled, and he will be closing shop at the end of the month.
There is just too many makes and models in this market.
Suzuki cars USA is one messed up operation. If I understand it right, all the GM-Daewoo stuff is now gone, they have a copy of the Nissan Frontier, the Fiat joint venture SX4 and the Grand Vitara.
Isuzu, Suzuki and Mitsubishi are all essentially dead brands in the US. Isuzu I think is actually finally officially dead.
I dunno, SX4 sedans are popping up like weeds in the parking lot at work. Cheap, and not bad looking at all. Not enough shoulder room for me, though.
the SX4 is nice but i’ll take a swift, please.
oh what? suzuki does not sell the swift in america? nevermind, i’ll buy another car from another company then.
the sx4 is nice and all, but the swift is a nicer drive.