Declining sales tightened the noose.
Suzuki Australia has announced that the Celerio hatch has been dropped from the local lineup. Dwindling interest in the eco-box led to its demise, as was confirmed by the company in a query.
The Celerio has long sat as one of the cheapest ways to get into a brand-new car on our shores. At just $12,990 (before ORCs), the Celerio even enjoyed multiple drive-away campaigns that saw prices get sharpened further. Imported entirely from Thailand, the Celerio saw motivation from a 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated three-pot banger, which developed a modest 50kW and 90Nm. Power was sent through either a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic (ooh, fancy) to the front wheels.
To get an idea of how dismal the sales figures are for the Celerio, it was reported that only 4 units found homes last month, with the total year-to-date number sitting at just 141 units by the end of last month, representing a 86.2% decline in monthly sales and a 74.3% reduction annually. And while the segment is shrinking, some competitors are faring better than others, with the equally-compact Kia Picanto moving in strong numbers and enjoying a 200.5% year-on-year increase despite having been on the market since April last year.
Must be the styling.
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