Demand for minivehicles -- which hit a record 1.924 million units sold in 2005 -- is starting to level off, the chairman of Suzuki Motor Corp. said Friday.
"I think the market is reaching its peak and I don't think there is a possibility for it to exceed the 2 million mark," Osamu Suzuki told reporters in Tokyo. "We expect the market to remain flat from now on."
Analysts have said one reason for the popularity of minivehicles -- cars with engine displacements of up to 660cc -- is rising gas prices, which have pushed consumers to favor cars with better fuel efficiency.