Suzuki 2004 Annual Report Download - page 12

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SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
11
Strategic Alliance with General Motors Corporation
Suzuki and General Motors Corporation (GM) began a
business partnership in August 1981 and the partnership has
yielded solid results ever since. In September 2000, we
announced a further strengthening of our strategic alliance. At
the end of March 2004, GM's equity participation in Suzuki
amounted to 20.3% of shareholder voting rights.
Both companies are making efforts to ensure our strategic
alliance will enable us to work closely together - while allowing
each company to express its individual strengths - to develop
products quickly and keep investment costs down while
speeding up and broadening our market access.
During the previous fiscal year, we have expanded and
strengthened the alliance in various markets, including:
* In April 2003, Suzuki reached a basic agreement with Fiat
Auto S.p.A. for joint development of a new SUV. The new
vehicle, based on Suzuki's A-Segment Platform, will be a small,
5-door, 4-wheel-drive model, and is planned to be offered in
both gasoline and diesel engine versions. Production will start
during the second half of 2005 at Magyar Suzuki Corporation in
Hungary and the product will be sold at both Suzuki and Fiat
dealers in Europe, under each company's own brand.
* In June 2003, Magyar Suzuki Corporation in Hungary started
an OEM supply of the new G3X Justy to Subaru Europe N.V./
S.A. The supply of the predecessor model started in 1995.
* In August 2003, Suzuki began selling passenger cars, made
by GM-Daewoo Auto & Technology in Korea, at American
Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), followed by Suzuki Canada
Inc. (SCI) in November 2003. By the end of March 2004,
approximately 5,000 Verona (2.5 liter) and approx. 5,000
Forenza (2.0 liter) had been sold at ASMC, and approx. 100
Verona and approx. 1,000 Swift+ (1.6 liter) had been sold at
SCI.
* In addition to the joint-developed Chevrolet Cruze
manufactured at Suzuki's Kosai Plant and sold by Suzuki in
Japan from November 2001, Suzuki began importing and
distributing the Chevrolet Trailblazer in January 2004 and the
Chevrolet Astro in March 2004.
As these examples illustrate, GM and Suzuki, through our
long-term and outstanding strategic alliance, will continue to
pursue realization of cost reduction and increased sales, and
the creation of value for our shareholders.
Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Suzuki's Arena sales
channel in Japan began offering.
Suzuki has tighted the bonds with GM and
alliance partners.
GM Daewoo models, sold through Suzuki's
North American sales channel.
(Model shown: Verona)