Suzuki to Add Huf 50 Billion in Hungary Plant

Daily Világgazdaság has reported recently that Suzuki’s local subsidiary is planning to step up production as its number of employees is seen to grow from 5,000 to 6,000 by the end of next year. The main reason for the upgrade is that the sole Suzuki plant in Esztergom, north of Budapest will start the test runs of its two new models in December 2007 with mass scale production to start in early 2008 according to the newspaper.

The two new models to be tested are the Suzuki Splash with its top-of-the-line Suzuki catalytic converter and Opel Agila models which are developed in partnership with Opel. These two models were assembled in Esztergom.

40,000 new Splash and 80,000 Agila cars are scheduled to leave the factory next year. The total of additional investment needed at the Esztergom plant have reach HUF 45 billion as of 2006 and for this year the company is planning to add another HUF 50 billion. The additional investment will help the factory to increase its production from 220,000 cars for this year to 300,000 cars next year.

The 2007 Suzuki sales in Hungary are estimated at 33,000 which is the same figure as last year.

In other news, Suzuki GB is sponsoring a charity ride from Trafalgar Square in London to the Red Square in Moscow this week. Three British riders will make the trip driving Suzuki’s V-Strom 1000 in aid of the BEN motor industry charity.

The three British drivers namely John Sirett, John Merry, and James Merry has left the Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning set for the epic trip across Holland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and then into Russia where they are scheduled to arrive at the Red Square in Moscow on the 21st of July.

Team member, John Sirett has commented about the trip, he said, “We were keen to help the BEN charity in their worthy efforts and saw the Moscow trip as a great opportunity to raise the profile, while raising funds in the process. We chose the V-Strom for its mile-munching abilities and with its excellent weather protection felt it was the perfect choice for the trip."

The trip of the three Brits across six border crossings will also be documented and will be released on Suzuki.co.uk later in the week. And according to Suzuki GB marketing manager Paul de Lusignan, "We are delighted to back the guys in their ride to Moscow. Aside from being pleased that they chose the V-Strom for this trip, we are equally delighted to be able to make a contribution towards what is a very worthy cause."