Suzuki to Produce Diesel-Powered Cars at Hungarian Unit

ESZTERGOM, Hungary - Japanese car maker Suzuki has commenced production of diesel-powered passenger cars at its plant in Esztergom, Hungary, local daily Vilaggazdasag reports. The company plans to assemble 18,000 units of the third-generation Swift models with 1.3-litre diesel engines this year, the paper said. Until now, the base in Hungary has only built cars with petrol engines.
Vilaggazdasag also claimed that starting from autumn, the plant will make Swift Sport models with Japanese sourced 1.6 litre petrol engines. Diesel engines will be delivered from India's Maruti Suzuki.

Last year, more than 170,000 cars rolled off the production line at Magyar Suzuki. Second-generation Swift models accounted for 15% of output and third-generation Swift, which the plant started making in June, accounted for 22%. SX4/Sedici models made up 32% of production and Splash/Agila models 31%.

This year, the plant expects to make 160,000-170,000 cars, communications director Viktoria Ruska told Vilaggazdasag. About 40% of the cars will be Swift models and the rest will be evenly divided between the SX4/Sedici model and the Splash/Agila model, she added.