Suzuki looks back at its top six moments of 2025

From sales milestones and awards success to motorsport, sport and owner-led events, 2025 proved an eventful year for Suzuki Auto South Africa. The highlights below capture moments and achievements that stood out, both on and off the road, over the past 12 months.

1: Supercharged sales performance

One of the most significant highlights of the year was Suzuki’s stellar local sales performance. After selling 59,574 new passenger and light commercial vehicles in 2024, the Hamamatsu-based brand grew this to 71,560 in 2025 – a year-on-year improvement of 20%. This figure means that Suzuki now commands a 12.03% share of the total South African market. Top-selling models from the marque’s portfolio included the fourth-generation Swift, Fronx, Ertiga, Baleno and Jimny. During the course of 2025, many new milestones were reached, including the sale of 6,890 vehicles in October – a new overall monthly sales record. Suzuki also cemented its position as the country’s second-best-selling vehicle manufacturer during the year.

2: Serving up a feast of action at the 2025 Festival of Motoring

Suzuki used the Festival of Motoring to place its cars in front of consumers in demanding, real-world conditions. Over the three-day event, some of its most popular vehicles covered more than 7,100 km through a mix of track driving, self-drive sessions and off-road experiences, including 455 laps completed by the Jimny 4x4 fleet on the off-road course. The scale of activity was matched by strong public engagement, with over 6,000 giveaway items handed out and 142 staff on-site supporting operations. In total, 1,342 litres of fuel was used, reflecting the intensity and consistency of participation throughout the weekend.

3: Celebrating a trio of sporting achievements

Long-time believers that sport can truly unite communities and drive positive change, Suzuki is aligned with some of the country’s oldest and most revered athletic institutions, including Cricket South Africa, the Griqualand West Rugby Union, and the Orlando Pirates Football Club. These partnerships bloomed in 2025, with the Proteas Women’s ODI team reaching the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the Griquas winning the Currie Cup (ending a 55-year drought), and the Buccaneers claiming their fourth consecutive MTN 8 title. To top this off, Suzuki also announced an exciting three-year collaboration with the Betway SA20 T20 cricket league as a Proud Vehicle Partner.

4: Another sizzling Simola Hillclimb

For the fifth year running, Suzuki supported the annual Simola Hillclimb – one of the premier motorsport events on the local calendar – as a Tier One OEM sponsor. An event celebrated by competitors and spectators alike, the Japanese brand again used it to showcase its diverse passenger vehicle lineup, with the Jimny, fourth-generation Swift, and Swift Sport all driven up the 1.9 km course in anger by a select group of motoring scribes. The manufacturer also demonstrated its GSX-R8 sportbikes and unveiled the Suzuki GSX-8R Cup race series.

5: Swift drives away with local awards

Suzuki scored big at the 2025 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, where its fourth-generation Swift won overall honours in the Best Budget Car category. This marks the seventh time Suzuki has triumphed in this category, and the fifth time the Swift itself has taken the top spot. The popular hatchback enjoyed similar success at the 2025 South African Car of the Year (SA COTY) competition, where it was voted overall Budget Category Winner.

6: Community, adventure and a world record at Jimny Gathering 2025

Suzuki hosted its second biannual Jimny Gathering from 25 to 28 September at Louvain Guest Farm in the Western Cape, bringing together more than 1,000 Jimny owners and fans for four days of off-road driving, lifestyle activities, and live entertainment. Participants tackled curated 4x4 trails in the Outeniqua Mountains, while the event also featured live music, a dedicated music festival in Oudtshoorn (Suzuki Safari Town), and a new Jimny Gathering Pageant. The weekend culminated in the setting of a new Guinness World Record, with 1,127 vehicles closing 1,838 doors simultaneously, underscoring the strong sense of community around the Jimny brand.

“2025 was a year we can look back on with real pride,” said Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager at Suzuki Auto South Africa. 

“None of these milestones happen in isolation, and they reflect the commitment of our dealers, partners, and teams, as well as the loyalty of South Africans who continue to choose Suzuki. Whether it was on the sales charts, at major events, through our sporting partnerships or alongside the Jimny community, the support we felt throughout the year was humbling. As we head into 2026, our focus is on building on this momentum and continuing to grow the brand in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.”