Suzuki to cut four models as it pivots to an electric line-up

Suzuki will cut four models from its line-up, by early 2025, in order to comply with UK and EU emissions regulations.

The Swift Sport, Ignis, Swace and Jimny LCV are all on the chopping block. Hybrid models of the Swift, Vitara and S-Cross will remain, alongside the plug-in hybrid Across.

Dale Wyatt, director of Suzuki GB, said: ‘‘The departure of these models will make room for EV and enable us to compete during a period where our sales ratio of hybrid versus EV products will drive our business. We’re exiting the ICE era with a focus on SUV’s and new Swift, then starting in the second half of 2025 we’ll begin a period of EV growth."

Suzuki will introduce its first pure electric car in 2025, the eVX, and by 2030 it will add another four EVs to its range.

The brand's registrations have historically been retail heavy, but Lee Giddings, national fleet sales manager at Suzuki GB believes that the shift to EVs will enable it to become a larger player in fleet. You can read more about Suzuki's fleet strategy in our spotlight interview, here.

Carmakers are being encouraged to sell a rising proportion of zero emission cars by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, which sets annual targets and drives compliance through financial penalties and credits.

The ZEV mandate sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030. It targets 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035.

In 2024, when the UK has a 22% ZEV Mandate target, Suzuki aims to sell similar new car volumes in the UK and Ireland to those it achieved last year.

Its full-year UK registrations were 26,574 in 2023, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).