shep wrote:
2 million jimnys have been sold world wide while the biggest selling model (swift) has sold 4 million.
My money is on a beam axle jimny being around for a while yet
My money is on a beam axle jimny being around for a while yet
The Swift hit 5 million in sales late 2016.
Suzuki was the number 10 in all global car sales for 2014-2015. Looking at their annual report it's clear the India is the only reason they are up there in numbers.
But even still, they out sold Volvo, Landrover, Porche, Renault, Jeep and many, many others by a long way.
It's hard to get global numbers for every model to do a proper comparison, but the European figures are pretty clear.
Last year was the first year of reports that include the new Vitara, so the sales numbers where (I believe) unsustainably high for that model.
But even with the inflated sales numbers of the Vitara, the facts are that Jimnys still outsold the SX4 by almost 4 to 1 in Europe.
Now here's a question for all those playing along at home;
How many advertisements have you seen specifically for Jimnys in the last 18 years that they have been selling these cars in Australia?
And I mean a specific add for Jimnys, not a 1 second grab in a general add for all Suzuki's.
I know how many I've seen.... None, not one add ever for a Jimny.
If you go on the Suzuki website you have to actually search for a Jimny, not one picture or even a mention of this model on the home page. Here have a look for yourself. But somehow they still managed to sell over 1,000 units in 2015.
It's pretty clear that Suzuki corporation know their place in the automotive market, and that is the Ultra-Mini and Mini-Compact size range.
The Grand Vitara is actually a bit of an oddity for them in my view. I believe we shouldn't expect any new models released (or old models that get replaced) to be any bigger then the new Vitara.
So I stand by my earlier statement; the 'new' model that the media is saying will be released this year or next year will be exactly the same as the current model, just with side airbags.
It will be replaced, that is inevitable, and it will be replaced with something completely different.
The fact that it has lasted nearly 20 years says that there is still a market for these niche type vehicles, despite all of their down falls.