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Suzuki QLD refunding deposits for cancelled Jimny orders as stop-sale continues

Suzuki QLD refunding deposits for cancelled Jimny orders as stop-sale continues

The Advertiser6 days ago
Suzuki Queensland has confirmed it will offer customers the chance to cancel orders – and refund their deposits – on its most popular model, the five-door Jimny XL off-roader.
It comes after Suzuki Australia managing director Michael Pachota issued a directive to dealers to offer the option to customers, given no news on when a stop-sale issued for the Indian-made Jimny five-door last month will end.
The reason for the stop-sale hasn't been explained to Suzuki Australia or Suzuki Queensland, although the vehicles are able to be driven on-road, suggesting it's not a safety issue.
"It's very much the same direction for our state … we just try to pick out as much information as possible from SMC [Suzuki Motor Corporation] and through India," Jake Tobin, Suzuki Queensland marketing manager, told CarExpert.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
"We're trying to be as open as possible, and trying to give updates where we can to work through the situation."
Suzuki Queensland is a separate distributor of the brand and contributes around 30 per cent of Jimny sales nationally.
It operates in the Sunshine State and NSW's Northern Rivers area, while Suzuki Australia looks after the rest of the country.
Customers will be able to cancel orders and have deposits returned upon request.
They're also able to keep their order despite no news on when the stop-sale will end, with no indication on when the cars will be released and delivered to buyers.
"We're leaving that up to the dealerships and the customers to work through what their preferred sort of course, is, depending on what the delivery status is with each specific customer – whether they're on hold or want to take some money back, we just leave it up to them, case by case," Mr Tobin said.
The Jimny XL is the most popular Suzuki both nationally and in Queensland, outselling the Japanese-made three-door Jimny, which isn't impacted by the stop-sale."Five-door has probably been running ahead of the three-door for a year or so, [there has been] a little bit easier supply of five-door, but it has been a best seller," Mr Tobin added.
"We're certainly doing as much can to glean some more information. We're just having to be patient – that's all we can do at the moment – until we find out more information."
While the three-door Jimny isn't impacted by the stop-sale, it has suffered from a supply interruption of its own.
Suzuki confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other models in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
That meant Suzuki couldn't import any more vehicles beyond March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect. The Jimny XL was unaffected as it had a compliant AEB system.
Suzuki still has stock of vehicles imported and complied before March 1, however an updated, compliant model won't launch until the first quarter of 2026. Between this and the XL's stop-sale, then, Suzuki's most popular model in Australia has suffered a one-two punch.
MORE: Suzuki Australia cancels Jimny XL orders, return deposits
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Suzuki Queensland has confirmed it will offer customers the chance to cancel orders – and refund their deposits – on its most popular model, the five-door Jimny XL off-roader.
It comes after Suzuki Australia managing director Michael Pachota issued a directive to dealers to offer the option to customers, given no news on when a stop-sale issued for the Indian-made Jimny five-door last month will end.
The reason for the stop-sale hasn't been explained to Suzuki Australia or Suzuki Queensland, although the vehicles are able to be driven on-road, suggesting it's not a safety issue.
"It's very much the same direction for our state … we just try to pick out as much information as possible from SMC [Suzuki Motor Corporation] and through India," Jake Tobin, Suzuki Queensland marketing manager, told CarExpert.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
"We're trying to be as open as possible, and trying to give updates where we can to work through the situation."
Suzuki Queensland is a separate distributor of the brand and contributes around 30 per cent of Jimny sales nationally.
It operates in the Sunshine State and NSW's Northern Rivers area, while Suzuki Australia looks after the rest of the country.
Customers will be able to cancel orders and have deposits returned upon request.
They're also able to keep their order despite no news on when the stop-sale will end, with no indication on when the cars will be released and delivered to buyers.
"We're leaving that up to the dealerships and the customers to work through what their preferred sort of course, is, depending on what the delivery status is with each specific customer – whether they're on hold or want to take some money back, we just leave it up to them, case by case," Mr Tobin said.
The Jimny XL is the most popular Suzuki both nationally and in Queensland, outselling the Japanese-made three-door Jimny, which isn't impacted by the stop-sale."Five-door has probably been running ahead of the three-door for a year or so, [there has been] a little bit easier supply of five-door, but it has been a best seller," Mr Tobin added.
"We're certainly doing as much can to glean some more information. We're just having to be patient – that's all we can do at the moment – until we find out more information."
While the three-door Jimny isn't impacted by the stop-sale, it has suffered from a supply interruption of its own.
Suzuki confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other models in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
That meant Suzuki couldn't import any more vehicles beyond March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect. The Jimny XL was unaffected as it had a compliant AEB system.
Suzuki still has stock of vehicles imported and complied before March 1, however an updated, compliant model won't launch until the first quarter of 2026. Between this and the XL's stop-sale, then, Suzuki's most popular model in Australia has suffered a one-two punch.
MORE: Suzuki Australia cancels Jimny XL orders, return deposits
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Suzuki Queensland has confirmed it will offer customers the chance to cancel orders – and refund their deposits – on its most popular model, the five-door Jimny XL off-roader.
It comes after Suzuki Australia managing director Michael Pachota issued a directive to dealers to offer the option to customers, given no news on when a stop-sale issued for the Indian-made Jimny five-door last month will end.
The reason for the stop-sale hasn't been explained to Suzuki Australia or Suzuki Queensland, although the vehicles are able to be driven on-road, suggesting it's not a safety issue.
"It's very much the same direction for our state … we just try to pick out as much information as possible from SMC [Suzuki Motor Corporation] and through India," Jake Tobin, Suzuki Queensland marketing manager, told CarExpert.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
"We're trying to be as open as possible, and trying to give updates where we can to work through the situation."
Suzuki Queensland is a separate distributor of the brand and contributes around 30 per cent of Jimny sales nationally.
It operates in the Sunshine State and NSW's Northern Rivers area, while Suzuki Australia looks after the rest of the country.
Customers will be able to cancel orders and have deposits returned upon request.
They're also able to keep their order despite no news on when the stop-sale will end, with no indication on when the cars will be released and delivered to buyers.
"We're leaving that up to the dealerships and the customers to work through what their preferred sort of course, is, depending on what the delivery status is with each specific customer – whether they're on hold or want to take some money back, we just leave it up to them, case by case," Mr Tobin said.
The Jimny XL is the most popular Suzuki both nationally and in Queensland, outselling the Japanese-made three-door Jimny, which isn't impacted by the stop-sale."Five-door has probably been running ahead of the three-door for a year or so, [there has been] a little bit easier supply of five-door, but it has been a best seller," Mr Tobin added.
"We're certainly doing as much can to glean some more information. We're just having to be patient – that's all we can do at the moment – until we find out more information."
While the three-door Jimny isn't impacted by the stop-sale, it has suffered from a supply interruption of its own.
Suzuki confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other models in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
That meant Suzuki couldn't import any more vehicles beyond March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect. The Jimny XL was unaffected as it had a compliant AEB system.
Suzuki still has stock of vehicles imported and complied before March 1, however an updated, compliant model won't launch until the first quarter of 2026. Between this and the XL's stop-sale, then, Suzuki's most popular model in Australia has suffered a one-two punch.
MORE: Suzuki Australia cancels Jimny XL orders, return deposits
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Suzuki Queensland has confirmed it will offer customers the chance to cancel orders – and refund their deposits – on its most popular model, the five-door Jimny XL off-roader.
It comes after Suzuki Australia managing director Michael Pachota issued a directive to dealers to offer the option to customers, given no news on when a stop-sale issued for the Indian-made Jimny five-door last month will end.
The reason for the stop-sale hasn't been explained to Suzuki Australia or Suzuki Queensland, although the vehicles are able to be driven on-road, suggesting it's not a safety issue.
"It's very much the same direction for our state … we just try to pick out as much information as possible from SMC [Suzuki Motor Corporation] and through India," Jake Tobin, Suzuki Queensland marketing manager, told CarExpert.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
"We're trying to be as open as possible, and trying to give updates where we can to work through the situation."
Suzuki Queensland is a separate distributor of the brand and contributes around 30 per cent of Jimny sales nationally.
It operates in the Sunshine State and NSW's Northern Rivers area, while Suzuki Australia looks after the rest of the country.
Customers will be able to cancel orders and have deposits returned upon request.
They're also able to keep their order despite no news on when the stop-sale will end, with no indication on when the cars will be released and delivered to buyers.
"We're leaving that up to the dealerships and the customers to work through what their preferred sort of course, is, depending on what the delivery status is with each specific customer – whether they're on hold or want to take some money back, we just leave it up to them, case by case," Mr Tobin said.
The Jimny XL is the most popular Suzuki both nationally and in Queensland, outselling the Japanese-made three-door Jimny, which isn't impacted by the stop-sale."Five-door has probably been running ahead of the three-door for a year or so, [there has been] a little bit easier supply of five-door, but it has been a best seller," Mr Tobin added.
"We're certainly doing as much can to glean some more information. We're just having to be patient – that's all we can do at the moment – until we find out more information."
While the three-door Jimny isn't impacted by the stop-sale, it has suffered from a supply interruption of its own.
Suzuki confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other models in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
That meant Suzuki couldn't import any more vehicles beyond March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect. The Jimny XL was unaffected as it had a compliant AEB system.
Suzuki still has stock of vehicles imported and complied before March 1, however an updated, compliant model won't launch until the first quarter of 2026. Between this and the XL's stop-sale, then, Suzuki's most popular model in Australia has suffered a one-two punch.
MORE: Suzuki Australia cancels Jimny XL orders, return deposits
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from:

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