Sales of new vehicles in Saudi Arabia have shown steady growth since the slump precipitated by the 2009 financial crisis. BMI estimates that 2011 will have seen a 7.0 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in sales, to a total of 688,883 units. The market will remain stable with growth hovering between 7.5-9.5 percent a year until 2016, when annual sales should total over 1 million units a year, the study said. BMI has long considered Saudi Arabia to be a reliable regional performer in the auto sector. The Kingdom ranks second in the Middle East North Africa ratings for the auto industry with the kind of strong and stable domestic demand for automobiles. The government is keen to develop the auto sector in a move to diversify away from an over reliance in oil and if it can successfully oversee the establishment of a credible vehicle production capacity, Saudi Arabia could be on the road to positioning itself as a regional leader in the auto industry, the report noted. Against this backdrop, Japanese automaker Suzuki's Kizashi has placed 5th in the Affordable Midsize Cars category of US News' “2012 Best Cars for the Money Awards.” This once again reaffirms Suzuki's industry leadership and commitment to excellence and further strengthens its position in the global markets, including Saudi Arabia. Kizashi was 5th out of the top 19 US, Japanese, Korean and German automobiles test-driven and reviewed by the Best Cars jury. Maher Al Nabawi, Deputy General Manager of Suzuki Saudia, said Kizashi is the first-ever full-size sedan designed by Suzuki, which is known more for its small and midsized automobiles. He added that the leading Japanese automaker intends to boost its standing in the Saudi, Arab and international markets through the growing reputation of its Kizashi model. The vehicle's success reflects Suzuki's ability to meet diverse market needs, he pointed out. Al Nabawi also revealed that the full-size yet economic Suzuki Kizashi is widely popular in the Kingdom, the growing demand exceeding expectations and overwhelmingly contributing to increased Suzuki sales in the Kingdom. He noted that Kizashi targets buyers looking for a luxurious car at an affordable price. Kizashi is powered by a 176-bhp, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine and equipped with a CVT six-speed manual/automatic transmission that can automatically adjust to provide better fuel economy and enhanced performance. Kizashi's standard features also include 18-inch aluminum tires, ABS, a leather interior, sunroof, cruise control, six airbags, automatic dual air conditioning, steering wheel volume controls, USB and CD/MP3 socket, a remote keyless ignition (RKI) and door opening system, front and rear parking sensors, passenger seat memory and adjustment, HID headlights for better control and command flexibility, sporty wiper arms, lower front bumper, and chrome-framed fog lights. In addition the vehicle maintains a well-designed figure that differentiates it from other cars within its category.
