Suzuki Motor Co. is considering giving General Motors Corp. a new compact car to be produced at Suzuki's plant in Hungary, a top Suzuki executive indicated Oct. 22.If the deal comes about, the new Suzuki would likely become a major model in the small car segment for GM, as it currently lacks a strong presence in that market. Suzuki President Osamu Suzuki has admitted that there have been talks on the issue with GM officials, but denied that he will reach an agreement with the U.S. automaker in the immediate future."We originally had a plan to sell new small cars in addition to the Cultus in Hungary," he said. "And we used to say that if GM is interested in the deal, that is fine with us."Magyar Suzuki Corp., Suzuki's subsidiary in Hungary, is currently producing the Cultus, called the Swift in Hungary. Suzuki is planning to double the production capacity of its Hungary plant to 100,000 units a year by 2000, to use the plant as an export base in Europe.GM and Suzuki signed a cooperative agreement in 1981, and the two companies have been strengthening their relations ever since. Suzuki and GM already have a joint venture in Canada, where they produce 150,000 compact cars a year.
