New A-Segment Car Joins Suzuki’s Southeast Asia Push

Suzuki announces a 2-pronged drive to expand in the soaring Southeast Asian market involving a new plant in Indonesia and a production boost in Thailand.

The Japanese automaker plans to spend ¥93 billion ($906.3 million) to build a plant in Indonesia that will assemble compact minivans and other models that do not overlap with its Thai production lineup.

The Bangkok Post reports Suzuki will double the annual production capacity at its Thai factory to 100,000 units next year. It also will develop a parts- and finished-products-supply network covering Southeast Asia.

Suzuki opened its Thai plant in March 2012 and builds 50,000 Swift 1.2L compact cars a year.

The ¥5 billion ($48.7 million) Thai expansion will accommodate production of a compact concept vehicle Suzuki debuted at the Thailand International Motor Expo that opened Nov. 28. The automaker will start building the A-segment hatchback concept called A Wind for domestic and export markets from next year.

The A Wind gets its name, Suzuki says in a statement, because it seeks to bring a fresh wind to the A-segment as a global compact car with a dynamic body, roomy cabin and quality interiors and exteriors.

“To create a more comfortable cabin, the distance between the front and rear seating has been extended, door openings are wide and the seats are easy to get in and out of; plus, the A Wind delivers class-leading luggage space,” Suzuki says.

The Bangkok Post says the new vehicle will adopt the weight reduction and other technologies used in the Alto minicar sold in Japan.

Suzuki plans to curb prices by using an existing platform and taking advantage of high-volume parts procurement, the newspaper says. The new car is expected to be priced at about ¥1 million ($9,745), the same range as the competing Nissan March and Mitsubishi Mirage.