Long delivery wait lists to remain for small-car brand as production hiccups hinder supply; Jimny worst affected
Suzuki Australia is bracing for a difficult 2023 as it struggles to secure enough stock for Australian consumers, with general manager Michael Pachota forecasting its supply issues to extend “well into 2024”.
Speaking to carsales last week, Pachota described the Japanese small-car brand’s current inventory levels as “unsatisfactory”, with no unsold vehicles available anywhere in the country.
“Our available inventory is currently zero,” he said.
Suzuki Jimny
“We only have vehicles in transit, whether they are in production, on boats or with our logistics partners that are already allocated to dealers and awaiting delivery, with the majority of our product range currently in back-order status.
“Dealer stock levels are still unsatisfactory to the current order rate in Australia.”
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to find the Suzuki Jimny is in the shortest supply with wait times of up to six months for manual versions and around 18 moths for automatics, hence the recent order book closure for the latter.
Suzuki Swift
Vitara and S-Cross customers are also up for six-month wait times for delivery, while Swift and Ignis buyers will be waiting roughly a month depending on the colour and specification.
“Products from Hungary [Vitara and S-Cross] have had a pause in availability due to parts and supply constraints,” Pachota said.
“Swift, along with Ignis, currently have the best production opportunities for us, but [are] still restricted versus our current order write performance.”
Suzuki S-Cross
Most of Suzuki’s production and supply woes are stemming from a crippling shortage of parts and components, which in 2021 prompted the emergence of the cut-price Jimny Lite and Swift GL S.
The shortages have also resulted in the delaying of local launches for certain facelifted and new models. Pachota wouldn’t be drawn into revealing which ones, but the five-door Jimny springs to mind given it’s not expected in Australia until next year.
Suzuki Vitara
It’s no secret the global reveal and launch of the next-generation Suzuki Swift has been pushed back from its intended date last year to the first half of this year, but an official reason for the raincheck is yet to be given.
This could also be one of the models Pachota was referring to, but for now his priority is improving the local operation’s dire supply issues.
“With continuous parts supply and production issues [while] maintaining current sales rates in dealerships, I can see supply issues continue throughout the year, moving well into 2024,” he said.
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Keyword: Suzuki Australia supply woes to continue into 2024