Suzuki is targeting an increase in sales in Europe of a third to 300,000 in a turnaround effort that will include a new model each year for the next three years, writes Brian Byrne.
The brand has suffered declining sales in the region for a number of years. It also pulled out of the US market last year. Some 40 percent of its global sales are currently in India.
The focus of recovery will hinge on cars like a production version of the iV-4 Concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Due in 2015, the AWD car will challenge a growing crossover segment currently occupied by the likes of the Nissan Juke, Opel's Mokka, Peugeot's 2008 and Renault's Captur. Unlike those others, 4WD will be standard on the iV-4.
The recently-launched SX4 S-Cross is aimed at the next level of crossover, where Nissan's Qashqai sells strongly. A new generation of the Nissan has just been revealed.
