Suzuki Oz Overcomes Supply Woes, Expecting Growth And New Models

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Suzuki Australia says it has come through the other side of a major supply shortage for its popular Swift and new S-Cross, returning to normal stock levels this month for the first time all year.

Local boss Tony Devers said today that the shortage was a “significant factor” in the company’s sales slide this year, down to 3963 at the end of March from 5823 for the same period in 2013.

Much of the deficit was in sales of the Swift, which went from being Australia’s best-selling light car in November last year (and second-best in December behind the i20) to the 5th best performer in its segment at the end of March.

Mr Devers said he believes that, along with supply issues for the new Hungarian-built S-Cross, the shipping shortages “have cost us upwards of 1800 combined sales”.