Suzuki Motor Corporation today announced the appointment of Masafumi (Mark) Harano as president, automotive operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (AMSC) effective May 1, 2007. Harano, 43, comes to American Suzuki from Suzuki Canada, Inc. where he has served as president for the past three years. Concurrent with Harano’s move to the United States in early May, Koichi Suzuki will return to the company’s headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, where he will oversee Suzuki’s North American marketing department.
The announcement of Harano’s appointment follows the company’s best first quarter ever and a record-setting 2006, when American Suzuki enjoyed automobile sales of more than 100,000 vehicles for the first time in its 22-year history. In addition to the sales volume achievement, the company enjoyed double-digit sales growth for the third consecutive year.
“I am proud that our sales showed double-digit increases for each of the last three years, and that we set a new sales record of over 100,000 units last year. These accomplishments are due in large part to the efforts of our American Suzuki team and a string of successful new products,” said Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “With more outstanding products on the horizon, I am confident that Mark’s leadership will allow American Suzuki to build upon its sales momentum and continue Suzuki’s success in the United States.”
Harano began his automotive career with Suzuki upon graduating from the Kobe City University with a degree in foreign studies in 1988. He has been responsible for Suzuki’s overseas automobile marketing in Southeast Asia and North America, as well as the company’s auto product planning department in Hamamatsu, Japan. Harano is familiar with American Suzuki’s Brea, Calif., operations, having served there as assistant to the company’s vice president of automotive sales and marketing for six years from 1993 to 1998 before moving to Canada.
“With the launch of three all-new products in the past two years, and with five more vehicles coming in the next four years, this is an exciting time for American Suzuki,” Harano said. “I look forward to the opportunities that many of these upcoming products will bring within automotive categories in which we currently do not compete.”
American Suzuki’s newly expanded product line includes the all-new XL7 midsize crossover SUV, the all-wheel-drive SX4 compact sport crossover, the media-acclaimed Grand Vitara, the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon, the five-door Reno and the Aerio sedan. These products will be joined this fall by the sporty, all-new SX4 sedan that was recently unveiled at the New York International Auto Show.
In addition to its strong vehicle line, Suzuki vehicles feature America’s #1 Warranty with an industry-leading 100,000-mile/seven-year, zero deductible, fully-transferable limited powertrain warranty.
About Suzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of more than 530 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than 2 million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 125 countries. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com.
