| Daily Világgazdaság has reported recently that | | | | in Moscow this week. Three British riders will make |
| Suzuki’s local subsidiary is planning to step up | | | | the trip driving Suzuki’s V-Strom 1000 in aid of |
| production as its number of employees is seen to | | | | the BEN motor industry charity. |
| grow from 5,000 to 6,000 by the end of next year. | | | | The three British drivers namely John Sirett, John |
| The main reason for the upgrade is that the sole | | | | Merry, and James Merry has left the Trafalgar |
| Suzuki plant in Esztergom, north of Budapest will | | | | Square on Saturday morning set for the epic trip |
| start the test runs of its two new models in | | | | across Holland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and |
| December 2007 with mass scale production to start | | | | then into Russia where they are scheduled to arrive |
| in early 2008 according to the newspaper. | | | | at the Red Square in Moscow on the 21st of July. |
| The two new models to be tested are the Suzuki | | | | Team member, John Sirett has commented about |
| Splash with its top-of-the-line Suzuki catalytic | | | | the trip, he said, “We were keen to help the BEN |
| converter and Opel Agila models which are developed | | | | charity in their worthy efforts and saw the Moscow |
| in partnership with Opel. These two models were | | | | trip as a great opportunity to raise the profile, while |
| assembled in Esztergom. | | | | raising funds in the process. We chose the V-Strom |
| 40,000 new Splash and 80,000 Agila cars are | | | | for its mile-munching abilities and with its excellent |
| scheduled to leave the factory next year. The total | | | | weather protection felt it was the perfect choice for |
| of additional investment needed at the Esztergom | | | | the trip." |
| plant have reach HUF 45 billion as of 2006 and for | | | | The trip of the three Brits across six border |
| this year the company is planning to add another HUF | | | | crossings will also be documented and will be released |
| 50 billion. The additional investment will help the | | | | on Suzuki.co.uk later in the week. And according to |
| factory to increase its production from 220,000 cars | | | | Suzuki GB marketing manager Paul de Lusignan, "We |
| for this year to 300,000 cars next year. | | | | are delighted to back the guys in their ride to |
| The 2007 Suzuki sales in Hungary are estimated at | | | | Moscow. Aside from being pleased that they chose |
| 33,000 which is the same figure as last year. | | | | the V-Strom for this trip, we are equally delighted to |
| In other news, Suzuki GB is sponsoring a charity ride | | | | be able to make a contribution towards what is a |
| from Trafalgar Square in London to the Red Square | | | | very worthy cause. |