Despite the positive outlook for Suzuki’s U.S. operations, American Suzuki Chairman Rick Suzuki has announced that he will step down as company head. Suzuki, 60, is the grandson of Michio Suzuki, founder of Suzuki Motor Corp., and has headed Suzuki’s American operations since 1998.
Suzuki made the announce in a letter to American Suzuki employees last Friday. Suzuki cited poor sales and earnings under his leadership as his reason for resignation.
In the same letter, Suzuki also announced that the automaker will reduce its U.S. workforce by 55 employees through a voluntary retirement package.
According to Automotive News, American Suzuki set a five year goal in 2003 to sell 200,000 vehicles and 300,000 motorcycles and ATVs in the U.S., but has only attained about half that volume in both categories.
Suzuki topped the 100,000 sales mark for the first time in the U.S. in 2006 and sold 101,884 vehicles last year. But because of the slumping market, Suzuki vehicle sales were off 5 percent through the first two months of the year.
Suzuki recently unveiled the Kizashi 3 concept at the New York Auto Show, a vehicle that should hit the U.S. market in 2010 and will likely get Suzuki closer to its goal of 200,000 sales.
03/31, 4:54 PM
posted by:
A4
suzuki had poor sales cause their lineup was mostly crap
03/31, 4:57 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Pug-ugly cars don’t sell,
even when a CEO got his job because
his granddaddy started the company.
03/31, 5:13 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
The XL-7 (Suzuki’s version of the Equinox) is actually really decent looking. They’ll get there.
03/31, 5:45 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
They blew it when they changed the Sidekick’s name to Vitara. I still don’t know what Vitara is supposed to stand for but it sounds like a vitamin ****tail for steroid monkeys. And WTF: Grand Vitara? The only dumber name in recent memory is B9 Tribecca.
03/31, 5:47 PM
posted by:
LaCaLover
Did he get rickrolled?
03/31, 7:42 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
Did you lose your mind? Does that mean anything besides some insane babbling from a senior?
03/31, 9:24 PM
posted by:
Veda
Kizashi looks good though… Hopefully they’ll up the quality at least as good as a Vitara. Most of the cars in their lineup are designed to be cheaper than the other japs, thus leading to poor quality interior materials even if they look decent.
03/31, 9:53 PM
posted by:
autonut
Veda, this is one of those times when I disagree with you. Although I am arguing looks which are subjective, but in the flesh Kizashi looks even more like Gene Simmons then on paper (I saw it in NYC autoshow).
03/31, 9:54 PM
posted by:
autonut
Oh, yes did anyone read anything about Ford clan stepping out of Ford mismanagement?
03/31, 11:41 PM
posted by:
hateful83
How’s about those sweet Suzuki commercials. “Are our cars as much fun as our bikes?” I have to make fun of them everytime I see them. Those people are trying to act so tuff with their SX4’s. They’re too good.
04/01, 2:05 AM
posted by:
A4
yo SX4s are mad deeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzz sonnnnnn
04/02, 9:30 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Somehow I don’t think his real name is “Rick”. It’s probably something more like Kazumatzushiban
04/02, 9:32 AM
posted by:
E60M5
^ lol.