The Suzuki Jimny is a vehicle that Australian customers just can’t get enough of, with demand outstripping supply by a considerable margin.
Wait times for the small 4WD have been excessive for several years now, but that doesn’t mean the brand is going to simply stick with the versions currently available.
Michael Pachota, general manager of Suzuki Australia, says the company is looking to fill open gaps in the Jimny line-up, as there is demand for more versions of the budget-friendly off-roader.
“The amount of interest we have on [Jimny derivatives] is ridiculous. We’ve got so much inquiry on Jimny – long-wheelbase, five-door, short-wheelbase ute, commercial fitouts with an enclosed section at the back,” he said. “It’s such an interesting space – that product has done so well for us locally.”
While some of those models more likely to be pie-in-the-sky than ready-to-buy, Mr Pachota brought things back to reality – or, a more immediate possibility – in the form of a cheaper automatic model in the range.
“There’s a huge market out there for an automatic version of the Jimny Lite,” he said of the more under-specced, steel-wheel and halogen-headlight-equipped model of the Jimny, which is currently only sold as a five-speed manual gearbox.
“There’s a rural, agricultural demand for those kinds of vehicles.
“There is a commercial version available in Europe,” Mr Pachota said, referring to the two-seat, entry-level version of the Jimny sold in some markets as a way of getting around CO2 emissions legislation for passenger vehicles. Instead, those Jimny variants are sold with a cargo barrier and flat rear storage section – essentially a micro van.
When asked if Suzuki Australia would choose to offer more Jimny options if stock were more readily available – such as a commercial van-style model – Mr Pachota was clear.
“Definitely,” he said. “If those options were available to us. Anything with a Jimny badge, there’s a market for – without a doubt. We have non-stop inquiry on all those things.
“Two years ago we brought less than 2000 cars into the country. Last year we brought less than 3000 cars. This Japanese fiscal year, so from April 1 2022 to March 31 2023, we have forecast that we might bring in 6000 cars.
“That supply rate is growing, but so are sales,” he said, meaning the demand for Jimny models isn’t likely to ease up anytime soon.
In the less immediate future, Mr Pachota commented on some recent spy shots of what appears to be an almost-production-ready version of the Jimny five-door model.
“Every time we see a concept of a car, it’s usually a few years away. But every time we see a spy shot of a car, especially if it looks production-ready, we end up seeing it within a year or so. Just an interesting fact, I think,” he said.
Suzuki Australia has managed to sell 2958 units of the Jimny to the end of July 2022, making the three-door four-wheel drive the second-most popular car in the brand’s range, behind the just-discontinued Baleno compact hatchback.
Keyword: Suzuki Jimny Lite auto, Jimny van on the cards for Australia alongside five-door and ute!