Suzuki Celerio, the full-option five-door hatchback has gained a 60 per cent share in Saudi Arabia’s compact car market, just a few months after it was introduced in the kingdom.

Suzuki Saudia, the sole distributor of Suzuki vehicles in Saudi Arabia, and part of Baramouf Group, said that since Celerio’s local May 2009 rollout, the model has become popular among young drivers and limited-income families due to its low CO2 emission, high fuel efficiency and comfort.

The compact car is the smallest of Suzuki's world strategic models and is manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corp, a subsidiary Maruti Suzuki India.

Suzuki Saudia recently hosted special technical training sessions for all Suzuki dealers within the GCC and North Africa to familiarise Suzuki’s Middle Eastern after-sales group with the Celerio’s theoretical and practical details.

“We made sure that our distributors and after-sales team were sufficiently prepared to assist customers ahead of the Celerio’s market entry, but the model practically sold itself as an environmentally-friendly and economical option for Saudi drivers,” said Maher Al Nabawi, deputy general manager, Suzuki Saudia.

“Normally there are safety concerns over a car of this size, but the total effective control technology incorporated into the model makes it one of the safest in its class, which has also become one of the Celerio’s key selling points,” he added.

The full-option Celerio includes a radio, CD and MP3 player; double airbags; an anti-lock breaking system; and power steering, allow wheels, remote control and fog lamp.

The new model features a stylish design targeted towards younger drivers and is powered by a state-of-the-art and lightweight K10B petrol engine.

The Celerio fully complies with the safety requirements set by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) through total effective control technology (TECT), said a statement. – TradeArabia News Service