Suzuki’s factory-fitted infotainment screens have returned to the small-car specialist’s vehicles after switching to locally-fitted displays for about a year to minimise production delays.
Japanese small-car specialist Suzuki has returned to factory-fitted infotainment touchscreens – rather than aftermarket displays installed in Australia – as parts shortages ease in the wake of the pandemic.
From late 2021 until the second half of last year, most Suzuki cars in Australia – all models except the Swift Sport hot hatch and S-Cross SUV – switched from a factory-fitted infotainment screen to a non-genuine display installed between shipping ports and dealerships.
The locally-installed infotainment system overcame a temporary parts shortage of the factory-fitted item.
The stop-gap measure kept production lines moving and enabled Suzuki to maintain a steady supply of cars to Australia.
As parts supply bottlenecks have eased, Suzuki has re-introduced factory-fitted infotainment screens since late last year.
The aftermarket touchscreens were two inches larger than the Suzuki-designed units – at nine inches across, compared to seven – and were equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but lacked embedded satellite navigation.
A number of customers noted on social media there were some glitches to Bluetooth connections, phone audio quality, and the rear camera display; Suzuki Australia says its data shows 2 per cent of the non-genuine infotainment systems were the subject of a warranty claim.
Suzuki’s website shows the Swift, Ignis and Jimny (standard model, not Lite) have returned to the 7.0-inch screen – though the website has not yet been updated to reflect the same change for the Vitara small SUV.
The Suzuki Baleno hatch was discontinued mid last year – before the Suzuki-designed screens returned – while the S-Cross small SUV and Swift Sport hot hatch were at no point fitted with the aftermarket units.
There have been no price changes to coincide with the return of the 7.0-inch screen – just as prices did not change when the 9.0-inch display was introduced 12 to 18 months ago.
The post Suzuki factory-fitted infotainment screens return as parts shortages ease appeared first on Drive.