Sojitz Establishes Suzuki Dealership in South Africa
Expansion of Suzuki four-wheel vehicle sales in Africa's largest market
Jun. 4, 2008
Sojitz Corporation has established a dealership to handle Suzuki four-wheel vehicles and to sell of four-wheel vehicles in the Republic of South Africa, the largest market in Africa. Sojitz has established Sojitz Absolut Auto (Pty.) Limited, in which the company holds a 51 percent stake, in partnership with local medium-sized dealer Absolut Motor Dealership (Pty.) Limited (Head office: Johannesburg, South Africa).
Sojitz will open its first store in the Sandton area of central Johannesburg, to coincide with Suzuki Motor Corporation’s commencement of South African sales of four-wheel vehicles in June. Sojitz will also engage in logistics for four-wheel vehicles exported from Japan by Suzuki. As the Suzuki flagship store, Sojitz Absolut Auto (Pty.) Limited will initially handle four types of vehicle; ‘Swift’, ‘SX4’, ‘Jimny’ and ‘Grand Vitara’.
Based on Suzuki’s brand strategy, Sojitz Absolut Auto (Pty.) Limited plans to build a new store in the vicinity of its first store and to relocate the store to the new building by the end of 2009. The company intends to develop further stores in areas other than Sandton, and will undertake to sell 1,000 four-wheel vehicles annually in South Africa by 2011.
Sojitz positions Africa as one of its core markets. The demand for automobiles in resource-rich South Africa is increasing with economic growth. The country’s current automobile sales are approximately 700,000 units per year, and it is expected that demand will further expand as a result of South Africa hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Sojitz has been engaged in the production, sales and export of Suzuki two- and four-wheel vehicles in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and will strengthen its efforts in the South African market, where further market expansion is anticipated.
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| [Swift] | [Jimny] |
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| [SX4] | [Grand Vitara] |
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Outline of Sojitz Absolut Auto (Pty.) Limited
Representative: Jean Pierre Gobel |