Requesting anonymity, a consulting spokeswoman retained for the winding-down process of the American Suzuki Motor Co. tells Aftermarket Business World that the parent firm in Japan – which has filed bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of its U.S. operations – is committed to keeping up the parts flow for eight years.
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“The plan is to transition the dealer network to a parts and service network,” she says.
The 220 existing American dealers had until the end of November to accept or reject the company’s offers. It is not yet known how many of them have embraced this parts and service-only status, although numerous Suzuki dealerships also carry other nameplates.
In addition to the ubiquitous in-house mechanical service centers, about 20 percent of Suzuki’s dealers include integrated body shop facilities as well.
“Many Suzuki dealerships have relationships with (independent) collision repair centers,” the spokeswoman adds. “We always recommend that customers demand Genuine Suzuki Parts and make sure their collision repair center is a Certified Repair Center.”
Warranties will continue to be honored in accordance with the stated provisions, and “at this moment in time we have made no plans to reimburse independents” if Suzuki vehicle owners seek to transfer their benefits.
Depending on the remaining array of these soon-to-be repurposed Suzuki repair and parts centers, some vehicle owners may be forced to travel longer distances when seeking services. Executives within the aftermarket, however, predict no challenges in procuring any of the necessary components.
Questions about the ongoing availability of Suzuki parts have been producing initial chuckles as industry executives cite Suzuki’s miniscule sales figures – there just aren’t too many of these vehicles out there waiting to be worked on.
Suzuki garnered only 0.2 percent of new vehicle sales over the first 10 months of this year. According to R.L. Polk & Co. and Experian Automotive, as of October Suzuki represented about 800,000 of the 240.5 million light vehicles currently populating America’s roadways.
“Despite the comparatively small vehicle population, Suzuki owners can rest assured about the availability of parts, components and service for their vehicles thanks to the automotive aftermarket,” says Paul McCarthy, vice president of industry analysis, planning and member services at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).
“The production capabilities of AASA full-service automotive aftermarket manufacturers make certain that an extensive range of quality replacement parts and components are widely available for Suzuki light vehicles,” he says. “Aftermarket channel partners ensure the delivery of these parts to independent repair shops and service professionals who assist these owners in keeping their vehicles on the road.”
“Aftermarket parts will continue to be available as long as the demand is there,” reports Paul Fiore, director of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). “As long as the demand can sustain some profitability, someone will be manufacturing the parts.”
Fiore, who also serves as committee liaison for the AAIA Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES) unit, says the anticipated state of original equipment parts “is completely analogous to Saab and Fiat.” As Suzuki eventually ceases direct involvement in the U.S., “some entrepreneurial person will come along and buy up the existing OEM stock, and that person who buys up the OE will also take the body parts.”
The scenario could take a route similar to what has transpired with domestic automakers, according to Fiore. “One of the Big 3 in Detroit would discontinue a model, but the parts would be there – everyone in the parts business knew where to send you. It’s a pretty straight-forward operation these days.”
It is possible, though, that availability issues could arise down the road with some of the more obscure Suzuki components in that “you can’t get them around the corner or in the same county,” Fiore says.
“It’s going to be the same situation as with other manufacturers who have left the U.S. market; you’ll still be able to get the parts,” says Dan Freeman, CEO and president at the Auto Parts Associates, Inc. program group. “They’re still making the vehicles for their Asian and European involvement, so I don’t think there will be a shortage of parts.”
“It’s probably not a serious concern – it will probably be pretty easy” to fulfill whatever demand there is for Suzuki parts, says AutoZone Treasurer Brian Campbell, who also ponders a possible paucity of potential customers. “Suzuki has been struggling for a long time. There’s such a lack of them sold in the U.S.”
“There’s hardly any of those out here in the Dakotas,” reports Tim Sturdevant, CEO and president of Sturdevant Auto Parts, which encompasses 48 stores and 40 independent jobbers in six states. “The cars will hopefully be around for years to come, so it bodes well for the independent aftermarket.”
Expressing confidence in import suppliers such as WorldPac and Beck/Arnley, Sturdevant says “they’ll be able to fill that pipeline.”
Because WorldPac has been purchasing its products direct from the manufacturers, “until the demand dies – and as long as those suppliers are still up and running, – we’ll continue to have Suzuki parts,” according to WorldPac sales representative Mark Sweeten.
A Beck/Arnley spokeswoman is equally confident that there will be no parts flow disruptions: “We haven’t heard anything to the contrary,” she says.
“We get our parts from NAPA, so we don’t expect any problems in getting Suzuki parts – not at all,” says Hector Roman at Jackson’s Auto Supply in Brea, Calif., which is also home to Suzuki’s U.S. headquarters. Despite this proximity, or maybe because of it, “we don’t get too much demand,” he observes.
“LKQ plans to increase our inventory of Suzuki parts in anticipation of a likely increase in demand for aftermarket and salvage parts,” says Terry Fortner, vice president of industry relations and marketing development. “We have done this before when other manufacturers, such as Daewoo, have pulled out of the U.S. market,” he points out.
“LKQ’s salvage businesses have always carried a strong inventory of Suzuki mechanical parts, and will continue to do so going forward. Similar to crash parts, we plan to increase our inventory of Suzuki mechanical parts,” says Fortner. “It is likely that demand for aftermarket and salvage parts will be increasing, and LKQ plans to be ready to meet the needs of the marketplace.”
At Vornhagen Body & Paint in Brentwood, Calif., estimator Kirk Trapp notes that “we hardly ever get a Suzuki – maybe two a year.”
2020 Auto Body Tech, in the City of Industry, Calf., sees “one a year” on-average, according to a company spokeswoman. “We just don’t fix Suzukies that often,” she says.
