Suzuki to miss L.A., Detroit shows

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While the rest of the world's top automakers plan to use the upcoming Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows to present new models, Suzuki is choosing to stay away.

Initially, Suzuki had plans to attend the L.A. Show, but it was only recently that they decided to withdraw, confirmed American Suzuki spokesman Jeff Holland.

''We’ve got more of a conservative approach going forward,'' Holland said.

Suzuki claims it would rather focus on the 20 U.S. markets where the brand is most highly concentrated – L.A. and Detroit apparently do not fall into those markets.

The strength of the Japanese yen over the U.S. dollar has caused more than just budgeting issues with Suzuki; promoting and selling vehicles on American soil has proven difficult as well. Despite a 20% increase in sales (for the first 9 months of 2011) over last year, Suzuki is feeling the burn of the economic downturn.


Source: Automotive News