Sales Blizzard Makes December a Month to Celebrate for Suzuki

BREA, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2016) – If motorcycle, scooter and ATV sales were snowflakes, Suzuki would need a full fleet of KingQuad ATVs to plow out from December’s massive sales. For December 2015, Suzuki dealers increased retail sales by more than 50 percent compared to sales during 2014’s closing month. In fact, for the sixth month in a row, Suzuki dealers reported year-over-year sales gains. The sales storm – with growth in every category of motorcycles, scooters and ATVs – further increases Suzuki’s calendar year sales growth over 2014.

“Suzuki dealers worked incredibly hard throughout 2015,” said Rod Lopusnak, Director, Operations Head, Motorcycle/ATV Sales Operations for Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI). “And for them to help us close the calendar year so powerfully is a great sign moving into 2016. We will continue to give our dealers industry-leading opportunities to ease the sales process for buyers of Suzuki motorcycles, scooter and ATVs.”

December is an historically strong month for ATV sales, and Suzuki dealers outperformed that seasonal strength, boosting Suzuki’s December KingQuad ATV sales by more than 24 percent compared to the same month last year. This robust retail activity continues a long string of monthly ATV sales increases through 2015. The KingQuad 400 ATVs were Suzuki’s best-selling vehicles overall in December. The addition of strong retail performances for the KingQuad 500 and 750 models shows the strength of the entire KingQuad lineup. Anticipating continued strong demand, Suzuki dealers increased their wholesale purchases of KingQuad ATVs significantly as well.

“KingQuad ATVs have sold well throughout the year,” said Lopusnak, “proving that once Suzuki dealers can show customers that ‘Nothing is Built Like a KingQuad,’ shoppers will choose a KingQuad.”

Suzuki dealers helped fulfill hundreds of Christmas wishes in December as customers showed big interest in Suzuki’s smallest powersports machine, the DR-Z70 off-road motorcycle. Along with the Suzuki DR-Z125L and the RM85 motocross bike, the DR-Z70 gave Suzuki dealers great opportunities during the holiday gift-shopping season. Suzuki’s total monthly sales in both the Enduro and Motocross segments were up more than 100 percent compared to the same month in 2014.

December was much more than a month for work-ready 4x4s and well-priced powersports presents. Suzuki streetbikes in all shapes and sizes saw sales success through the month.

Suzuki’s growing line of standard-category motorcycles attracted a wide range of shoppers to Suzuki dealers. And those shoppers took action to significantly increase Suzuki sales year-over-year. Models such as the all-new Suzuki GSX-S1000 and GSX-S750 added new excitement to dealer showrooms in 2015, and the retail sales continued through December. The newest models, including the Bandit 1250S and the soon-to-arrive all-new SV650, will further ignite sales for Suzuki in this segment. Suzuki dealers are stocking up on standard models at every price point; they’re anticipating consumers’ increasing interest and increasing wholesale activity confidently.

Across the board, sales of Suzuki streetbikes were strong through December. Sales in Suzuki’s sportbike segment grew by more than 50 percent, retail in the DualSport-Adventure class of motorcycles was up 40 percent, Burgman scooters sales increased by 20 percent, and the Boulevard cruiser class more than doubled sales compared to the same month last year. The adventure-focused V-Strom 1000 ABS motorcycles made big sales gains. Consumers chose the Suzuki Hayabusa in large numbers, nearly doubling that model’s sales mark over the same month last year. The mighty Suzuki Boulevard M109R delivered powerful sales gains, too, proving that Suzuki dealers stuffed some large stockings at year’s end.

Suzuki’s industry-leading retail sales promotions, combined with an ever-improving model mix, was a big factor throughout the year for dealers’ strong sales. SMAI plans to continue that into January, and it recently announced the new #MySuzuki Sales Event that features similarly strong retail promotional offers, such as customer cash back and financing with interest as low as zero percent. The SMAI advertising team is communicating this offer for millions of impressions to keep interested shoppers aware of their nearby Suzuki retailer.

Suzuki brand-promotion plans through January also include a major focus on the start of the 2016 AMA/FIM Supercross season. The company returns to the tracks with its prominent Factory Racers, including James Stewart and Blake Baggett of Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing, plus Ken Roczen and Broc Tickle with the Soaring Eagle / Jimmy Johns / Suzuki Factory Racing team. Race fans watching live and on TVs throughout the country will see even more yellow Suzuki RM-Zs on Supercross tracks in 2016.

“Along with our expansion of Suzuki Amateur Racing, we are excited to support more racers and race teams in the premier sport of AMA/FIM Supercross,” said Steve Bortolamedi, Communications Manager for SMAI. “Fans of Suzuki RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 will be cheering loudly as the field of Suzuki racers grows this year. We are proud to support a number of new teams and excellent young racers.”

The Suzuki Racing field:

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing

James Stewart, #7 – RM-Z450

Blake Baggett, #4 – RM-Z450

Soaring Eagle / Jimmy Johns / Suzuki Factory Racing

Ken Roczen, #94 – RM-Z450

Broc Tickle, #20 – RM-Z450

Motorcycle Superstore / Suzuki Racing

Josh Osby, #174 – RM-Z250

Mark Worth, #172 – RM-Z250

Kyle Cunningham, #45 – RM-Z250

Jimmy Albertson, #84 – RM-Z250

TPJ / Fly Racing / Suzuki Team

Dustin Pipes, #95 – RM-Z450

Teddy Parks, #247 – RM-Z450

Nick Schmitt, #79 – RM-Z450

Auberson Killian, #902 – RM-Z250

Yoshimura / Dirt Candy Graphics / Suzuki Racing

Matt Bisceglia, #32 – RM-Z250

Daniel Baker, #78 – RM-Z250