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The History of Suzuki Motor Corporation
The year 1909 is an epochal date in automotive industry. The year can be distinguished by the birth of many legendary car manufacturers such as Audi, Bugatti, Ford and General Motors. Suzuki Motor Corporation is amongst them who is planning its centenary celebration this October.
The Suzuki Motor Corporation is Japan's fourth largest car maker and world’s ninth largest car manufacturer. It markets its vehicles in 192 countries around the globe and has 35 main production facilities in 23 countries.
This car behemoth began as the Suzuki Loom Company. It was established by Michio Suzuki in 1909 at Hamamatsu in Japan. Suzuki sold weaving looms to one of the Japanese silk industries. Twenty years later, Michio Suzuki invented a new type of weaving machine, which was exported overseas. The Suzuki Loom Company focused on the development and production of weaving machines till, its founder realized that the company had to broaden its horizons. Brooding over the market scenario, Michio Suzuki zeroed on small car production for his new venture. The process triggered in 1937 and in two years, Suzuki built several compact prototype cars. The cars were driven by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder engine, which was rampant during those times. They featured a cast aluminum crankcase and gearbox and delivered a horsepower of 13bhp from an engine displacement lesser than 800cc.
Manufacturing of these compact cars were discontinued during the second world war as the Japanese government branded civilian passenger cars as "non-essential commodity." Post World War II, Suzuki revived the production of weaving looms. Business boomed when the U.S. government approved shipping of cotton to Japan. The company prospered as it started getting orders from the domestic textile manufacturers till the cotton market collapsed in 1951 and Suzuki had to set out the automobile business once again.
The prospect of the car business was favorable in that time as the Japanese were in need of personal transportation. In 1952, Suzuki started making motorbikes using a 36cc two stroke engine. These motorbikes or mopeds are called 'Power Free' as they were designed in such a way that they could be ridden either by pedaling with engine assist or without engine assist or simply by igniting the engine. These mopeds were so ingenious that the government granted Suzuki a loan for research in motorcycle engineering and Suzuki Motor Corporation appeared on the world stage.
Following the success of its mopeds and motorcycles, Suzuki Motor Corporation went ahead with the construction of compact car with a 360cc two-stroke engine known as the Suzulight in 1955. The Suzulight was the pioneering car to feature front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. Soon the company rolled out its first off-road vehicle in 1970 with the launch of the LJ series lightweight 4x4. Suzuki Motor Corporation introduced the first marine outboard motor in 1965, mobile homes in 1974, general-purpose engines in 1980 and its first All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in 1982.
The Suzuki Motor Corporation is Japan's fourth largest car maker and world’s ninth largest car manufacturer. It markets its vehicles in 192 countries around the globe and has 35 main production facilities in 23 countries.
This car behemoth began as the Suzuki Loom Company. It was established by Michio Suzuki in 1909 at Hamamatsu in Japan. Suzuki sold weaving looms to one of the Japanese silk industries. Twenty years later, Michio Suzuki invented a new type of weaving machine, which was exported overseas. The Suzuki Loom Company focused on the development and production of weaving machines till, its founder realized that the company had to broaden its horizons. Brooding over the market scenario, Michio Suzuki zeroed on small car production for his new venture. The process triggered in 1937 and in two years, Suzuki built several compact prototype cars. The cars were driven by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder engine, which was rampant during those times. They featured a cast aluminum crankcase and gearbox and delivered a horsepower of 13bhp from an engine displacement lesser than 800cc.
Manufacturing of these compact cars were discontinued during the second world war as the Japanese government branded civilian passenger cars as "non-essential commodity." Post World War II, Suzuki revived the production of weaving looms. Business boomed when the U.S. government approved shipping of cotton to Japan. The company prospered as it started getting orders from the domestic textile manufacturers till the cotton market collapsed in 1951 and Suzuki had to set out the automobile business once again.
The prospect of the car business was favorable in that time as the Japanese were in need of personal transportation. In 1952, Suzuki started making motorbikes using a 36cc two stroke engine. These motorbikes or mopeds are called 'Power Free' as they were designed in such a way that they could be ridden either by pedaling with engine assist or without engine assist or simply by igniting the engine. These mopeds were so ingenious that the government granted Suzuki a loan for research in motorcycle engineering and Suzuki Motor Corporation appeared on the world stage.
Following the success of its mopeds and motorcycles, Suzuki Motor Corporation went ahead with the construction of compact car with a 360cc two-stroke engine known as the Suzulight in 1955. The Suzulight was the pioneering car to feature front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. Soon the company rolled out its first off-road vehicle in 1970 with the launch of the LJ series lightweight 4x4. Suzuki Motor Corporation introduced the first marine outboard motor in 1965, mobile homes in 1974, general-purpose engines in 1980 and its first All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in 1982.
The Suzuki Motor Corporation ventured into the Thai market in 1967 followed by business operation in Indonesia and Taiwan. The Japanese car company embarked on the US car industry in 1981 and signed a number of marketing and production contracts with General Motors and Isuzu Motors. The next year was marked by foundation of manufacturing units in India and Pakistan called Maruti Udyog Limited and PACO respectively. Maruti Udyog Limited later on went to become Maruti Suzuki Limited after Suzuki bought over majority of stakes from the Government of India. Suzuki also established a partnership in Spain and in 1984 it set up new marketing operations in New Zealand and France. Suzuki continued its push at globalization, opening a plant in Great Britain in 1986 that turned out 15,000 micro vans annually. In 1990 Suzuki Motor Company adopted the more international name Suzuki Motor Corporation. The company Suzuki continued to seek out countries with emerging markets and large populations. Therefore the joint ventures with the governments of Pakistan, Hungary, Egypt, China, India and Columbia had been low-risk and cost-effective means of expansion.
Suzuki could retain its position as Japan's leading “minicar” manufacturer for almost 25 years. The "minicars" is a concept limited to Japan only. These tiny cars are smaller than the subcompact. The company also makes marine outboard motors, generators, and water pumps. In addition, through its network of foreign assembly plants, Suzuki is adept at turning out millions of car parts. About 70 per cent of the company’s profit came from sales of automobiles including the Cervo, Alto, and Swift, the Carry van and the SUVs Samurai also called as the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy in India and the Escudo, called the Sidekick in United States. In 1998 the company introduced a compact SUV called the Jimny Wide. Motorcycles, which ranged from 50cc scooters to 1100cc touring bikes, represented approximately 15 percent of Suzuki's business. In addition, outboard motors contributed 3 per cent of Suzuki Motor Corporation sales.
The beginning of the new millennium marked the alliance of Suzuki Motor Corporation and General Motors. Suzuki emerged as General Motor's small-car partner and the all-wheel-drive compact car, Chevrolet Cruze came into being. It was followed by a 15 per cent stake in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology in 2002. As an outcome of this partnership, in 2003 Suzuki rolled out the Verona and Forenza into the U.S. market. These cars were the first of nine new models that Suzuki planned to unleash into the U.S. market over a period of five years.
The aggregate car production of Suzuki topped 10 million units in 1989, and global annual production exceeded 1 million units by 1990. Since then, Suzuki has continued to enjoy growth in demand. Its annual car production broke its record of 2 million units in 2005 and total car production reached an unbelievable 40 million units in 2008.
Suzuki's growth has been affirmed by its distinctive domestic and international strategies. Looking into the future, Suzuki Motor Corporation plans to concentrate strongly on lowering emissions. In the longer term, the car giant has intention of introducing of Hydrogen fuel cell technology for its medium size vehicles and an SX4 fuel cell vehicle that was recently tested on public roads in Japan.
To conclude, the history of Suzuki Motor Corporation can be aptly capsulated as “From Looms to Fuel Cells.”
Suzuki could retain its position as Japan's leading “minicar” manufacturer for almost 25 years. The "minicars" is a concept limited to Japan only. These tiny cars are smaller than the subcompact. The company also makes marine outboard motors, generators, and water pumps. In addition, through its network of foreign assembly plants, Suzuki is adept at turning out millions of car parts. About 70 per cent of the company’s profit came from sales of automobiles including the Cervo, Alto, and Swift, the Carry van and the SUVs Samurai also called as the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy in India and the Escudo, called the Sidekick in United States. In 1998 the company introduced a compact SUV called the Jimny Wide. Motorcycles, which ranged from 50cc scooters to 1100cc touring bikes, represented approximately 15 percent of Suzuki's business. In addition, outboard motors contributed 3 per cent of Suzuki Motor Corporation sales.
The beginning of the new millennium marked the alliance of Suzuki Motor Corporation and General Motors. Suzuki emerged as General Motor's small-car partner and the all-wheel-drive compact car, Chevrolet Cruze came into being. It was followed by a 15 per cent stake in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology in 2002. As an outcome of this partnership, in 2003 Suzuki rolled out the Verona and Forenza into the U.S. market. These cars were the first of nine new models that Suzuki planned to unleash into the U.S. market over a period of five years.
The aggregate car production of Suzuki topped 10 million units in 1989, and global annual production exceeded 1 million units by 1990. Since then, Suzuki has continued to enjoy growth in demand. Its annual car production broke its record of 2 million units in 2005 and total car production reached an unbelievable 40 million units in 2008.
Suzuki's growth has been affirmed by its distinctive domestic and international strategies. Looking into the future, Suzuki Motor Corporation plans to concentrate strongly on lowering emissions. In the longer term, the car giant has intention of introducing of Hydrogen fuel cell technology for its medium size vehicles and an SX4 fuel cell vehicle that was recently tested on public roads in Japan.
To conclude, the history of Suzuki Motor Corporation can be aptly capsulated as “From Looms to Fuel Cells.”
