(autoinsidernews) - Suzuki has been on a roll over the past year. The automaker sold just under 65,000 vehicles through July, up 32.3 percent, which is good for Suzuki since it was unable to break the 50,000 barrier from 1989 through 1999. And to keep vehicles flying off the lots moving Suzuki is planning to spend $60 million on advertising in the fourth quarter to promote the redesigned 2007 XL7 crossover and new 2007 SX4 small hatchback, reports Trend.
That compares to the $40 million that Suzuki spent on media for the same period in 2005, and nearly as much as the $67 million Suzuki spent in all of 2004. Despite the rapid growth in ads spending, Suzukis fourth-quarter budget is small by industry standards.
We dont expect to outspend anyone, says Gene Brown, vice president of marketing for American Suzuki. But we need to market more because still today in this country, were not known as a company that makes cars. Were basically known as a motorcycle company.
While Suzukis goal is to sell 250,000 vehicles in the United States by 2010, the company is on track to crack the 100,000 sales mark in the United States this year for the first time.