BREA, Calif. (August 3, 2004) - American Suzuki Motor Corporation achieved strong sales, posting a 27 percent increase in July sales compared to the same month last year - its highest July sales in seventeen years - and a 24 percent increase in year-to-date sales. In total, ASMC dealers sold 6,464 vehicles in July and 46,271 vehicles this calendar year.

American Suzuki's success comes from the rapid introduction of new products, such as its top-selling Suzuki Forenza premium compact and Suzuki Verona midsize sedan. Continued growth is expected due to the launch of two additional vehicles to the 2005 model year line, the five-door compact Suzuki Reno and versatile Forenza Wagon, scheduled to arrive in showroom floors this fall.

Also contributing to the success is the Suzuki Square Retail Brand Image Program, the dealer-development cornerstone of ASMC's aggressive plan to triple its U.S. sales by 2007. Suzuki Square is designed to attract buyers with a unique, stress-free, shopper-friendly environment featuring an open-air marketplace design. These new facilities offer bold visual styling with themed interior and exterior displays showing how Suzuki cars and SUVs fit a wide range of customer lifestyles. More than 330 dealerships have signed up to join the Suzuki Square Retail Brand Image Program and approx. 106 Suzuki Square dealerships are under construction. The first Southern California facility, Quality Suzuki, will open its doors this Friday in Westminster.

"Given the fast-growing sales of our value-packed product line, Suzuki is quickly becoming the brand of choice for smart, practical consumers who demand more for their money," says Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki's Automotive Operations. "In addition to great new product, Suzuki Square facilities offer savvy customers a truly innovative, no-pressure way to shop for the perfect new car or SUV."

VEHICLE             2004    2003    %

VITARA:                319     591      -48%
GRAND VITARA:    452     584      -25%
XL-7:                 1,764   1,795       -5%
AERIO:                 699   1,931     -65%
FORENZA:          2,421         0          NA
VERONA:               809         0          NA
TOTAL:               6,464   4,912      27%

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