Suzuki Kosai Plant achieves 15 million units of automobile production

On 14 March, Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Kosai Plant announced that it had achieved 15 million units of automobile production.

The Kosai Plant (the current Plant No. 1) was completed and opened in October 1970 specifically for production of mini passenger cars. The Plant No. 2 at the Kosai site started producing compact cars in August 1983 in line with a tie-up between Suzuki and General Motors. Since then, the Kosai Plant has undergone successive production-facility enhancements including a new assembly line at the Plant No. 1 in March 2002. The Kosai Plant achieved 10 million units of production in August 2000 (roughly 30 years after its opening), and it reached the 15-million-unit milestone seven years and seven months later.

Since a Fronte mini passenger car became the first vehicle to roll off the production line in 1970, the Kosai Plant has manufactured minivehicles including the Alto, Wagon R, Kei, MR Wagon, Cervo, and Palette and compact cars including the Cultus (Baleno), Aerio (Liana), Swift, and SX4. The plant continues to operate at full capacity thanks to factors including strong overseas demand for Suzuki compact cars and strong demand for Suzuki minivehicles, some of which are badge-engineered by Mazda and Nissan.

A ceremony attended by Suzuki President and COO Hiroshi Tsuda was held at the Kosai Plant to mark the 15-million-unit milestone. The 15 millionth car off the production line was a Wagon R.

Kosai Plant production milestones

Kosai Plant overview