– Suzuki is one of the most successful enterprises in Hungary. What does it mean in facts and figures?
– Magyar Suzuki operates in Esztergom at a 57-hectare area. The majority of this area is manufacturing site. We have about 3,000 employees, out of which there are 900 people with Slovakian citizenships. We make 650 cars daily, so every one and a half minute a car is made. We make 10,000 cars per month for export and between 3,500 and 4,000 for our domestic market. We make two basic models continuously. These are the varieties of Ignis and the new Swift. We work with a young team. The average age of the 2.6 million registered passenger cars in Hungary are about 12 years. Out of which, the average age of the Suzuki cars is only 4.6 years. Suzuki cars are the really young and dynamic models in Hungary. All of the Suzuki cars have been made with double airbags since 2003. Each model is also equipped by ABS. In this category it exceeds 22%.
– To what extent Magyar Suzuki is affected by the falling demands for new passenger cars in Hungary?
– We have launched our new Swift model this year, which is very popular and we are in a situation that we cannot satisfy the demands with our current capacities. This downswing, however, is not true in our case.
– The Japanese companies are characterised by their continuous innovation. What is your policy in this respect?
– Magyar Suzuki invested HUF 60 billion last year in the preparation and making of our new model. By doing so, we have accomplished the title of the biggest re-investor company in Hungary last year. By this investment, we have enhanced our manufacturing capacity; therefore the annual manufacturing capacity is around 150,000 cars. But we do not want to stop here; we want to reach the 300,000 cars per year series by 2007.
– How many Hungarian suppliers do you work with?
– Currently, our total subcontracting network consists of 350 companies. Out of which, 75 are Hungarian companies and we have daily contacts with them. Among these, there are several big enterprises such as the Rába Company in Mór, which supply the majority of the seats to us.
– There are hardly 3 months left from this year. Do you want to surprise your customers?
– We have started the development of a SUV with the cooperation of the Fiat Company. This is a hobby car, which will be the official car of the Winter Olympics in Turin starting in January, and Fiat supply the diesel engines for this model.
– What do you expect from the Minister of Economy and Transport’s visit to Tokyo?
– I hope that Mr. Kóka, Minister of Economy and Transport can now address such Japanese automotive supplying companies, which are not yet present in Hungary.
