Suzuki Motor Corp said Thursday its net profit in the October-to-December quarter fell 24.2 per cent year-on-year to 6.5 billion yen (69.8 million dollars) due in part to a sales slump in Europe amid the eurozone debt crisis. Suzuki logged a net profit of 8.6 billion yen in the same period a year earlier. Year-on-year, quarterly operating profit rose 16.4 per cent to 26.7 billion yen for the October-to-December quarter while sales were up 4.2 per cent to 595.9 billion yen, dpa reported. In the quarter, sales in Europe plunged 20.1 per cent to 43,000 units while domestic sales edged down 2.1 per cent to 137,000 units, the carmaker said. Suzuki raised its operating profit outlook to 130 billion yen for the current financial year through March from 120 billion yen it had predicted three months ago. The carmaker maintained its net profit forecast at 70 billion yen. On Wednesday, Suzuki said it would resume auto production in Myanmar in May after a two-year suspension. The move came after the carmaker decided last year to pull out of the US market.
