Suzuki ends production of multiple models for Australia as new safety regs loom

Up to four Suzuki models could soon become unavailable in Australia, where the popular three-door Jimny 4×4 may also face a sales hiatus.

Production of the current Ignis, S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport has ended for Australia, with Suzuki Australia managing director Michael Pachota confirming to CarExpert they’ve reached the end of their local lifecycles.

Suzuki Australia says it will have enough stock of the aforementioned models to continue selling them this year.

“Whilst we have stopped production orders of these vehicles, we will have inventory to continue sales in 2025,” said Mr Pachota.

“In effect, the product is not ‘axed’, more so each model specified is actually at the end of its life cycle, which was always part of our product planning.

“Whilst Jimny XL is unaffected, Jimny 3-Door currently does not meet the newly introduced ADR requirements, however investigations in overcoming this are already at play and our position on this product are yet to be confirmed – sales at this stage will continue in 2025.”

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Australian Design Rule 98/00, which comes into effect on March 1, 2025, outlines specific performance requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.

While the above Suzuki models all come standard with AEB – except the Ignis, which doesn’t have the potentially life-saving automatic braking technology – they may not meet the requirements of the new regulation.

For context, all new models launched since March 2023 have been required to meet the ADR, but all new cars and SUVs sold from March 2025 must be compliant with the regulation.

This regulation has already resulted in the axing of multiple Mitsubishi models – including the ASX (which is set to be replaced by a rebadged Renault Captur), the Eclipse Cross and Pajero Sport – as well as the Mazda 6.

Suzuki Australia had previously confirmed the Ignis would not be available after February 28, 2025 as it lacks AEB, but the non-compliance for the S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport comes as more of a surprise.

While the Suzuki Jimny also comes standard with AEB, the system fitted to the three-door is different to that in the newer five-door Jimny XL.

Jimny three-doors are equipped with a single camera that feeds images and data back to its safety systems, while the Jimny XL has a dual-camera system that makes it more capable.

It’s understood the three-door will this year be upgraded with the dual-camera system.

Suzuki is also set to launch a handful of new hybrid models, either based on existing nameplates or brand-new vehicles for Australia.

The company says the Fronx will launch in June or July, while hybrid versions of the Vitara and S-Cross “will be the subject of a Q3 announcement”.

Last year Suzuki revealed a facelifted Vitara with an updated ‘Dual Sensor Brake Support II’ AEB system, which includes an expanded detection area and the ability to detect vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians directly or diagonally ahead of it.

Initially due to arrive in Australia during the first quarter of 2025 (January to March), it was subsequently delayed to the second quarter (April to June).

A new S-Cross hybrid was previously said to be due in the third quarter (July to September), however, it’s not yet known whether this has an upgraded AEB system compared to the one in the current petrol-only model.

While Suzuki also launched a new Swift in Australia last year, a replacement for the previous Swift Sport warm hatch has not yet been revealed globally.

Last month, Suzuki delivered 1431 vehicles in Australia, including 712 Jimnys, 345 Swifts (understood to mostly be the new-generation model, not Swift Sports), 218 Vitaras, 83 Ignises and 73 S-Crosses.

MORE: Suzuki Australia planning three new hybrid SUVs in 2025MORE: Suzuki Vitara facelift revealed with tech, safety upgrades