Privacy

Protecting personal information

We fully recognize that personal information (information regarding our customers, business partners, shareholders, investors, employees, etc.) is an important and valued asset that we receive from individuals, and it is our obligation under the law and our accountability to society, to handle this information properly and with care. In response to this, we established the “Suzuki Motor Corporation basic policy on protection of personal information” and work hard for protection of personal information. Details on the handling of personal information are released on the Suzuki corporate website:

For Japan:

http://www.suzuki.co.jp/privacy_statement/index.html

For overseas:

https://www.globalsuzuki.com/cookies/index.html

We establish the in-house rules and revise them as required according to revision of related laws, etc. to handle personal information appropriately, and to familiarize our employees with these rules, Suzuki provides education so that all employees thoroughly become aware of protection and appropriate handling of personal information.

The specific measures taken by Suzuki to manage personal information are as follows.

In addition, the basic policy on protection of personal information is also followed at Suzuki Group companies to thoroughly ensure protection of personal information.
We will continuously review and improve the personal information protection system.

Information security

Basic concept

To properly manage personal and confidential information, based on the Suzuki Basic Policy for Information Security, an information security officers’ committee was established under the Corporate Governance Committee to deal with information security in general including cybersecurity, and the Company is promoting the Suzuki Group’s information security measures.

Management system

We have established countermeasures subcommittees under the information security officers’ committee to build a system to implement more appropriate information security management.

■ Information security management system promotion organization

Measures against information leakage and external attacks

We obtained ISO 27001 (information security management system) certification in 2020, and we continue to maintain the certification by conducting Company-wide assessment activities and internal audits every year.
We have organized a dedicated CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) to prevent information security incidents, detect and resolve them at an early stage when they occur, and prevent recurrence after they occur. In preparation for the occurrence of such incidents, the CSIRT conducts (1) collection and analysis of information on information security incidents and (2) internal awareness-raising activities.
In addition, we conduct response training twice a year for CSIRT members on the assumption that an information security incident has occurred.

Implementation of education

For information security, we provide the following training to all employees, including officers, as well as to all personnel in charge.

• Implementation of information security education

For all employees, including officers, we conduct e-learning education (once a year), distribution of ISMS (Information Security) education cards (once a year), new employee training, and rank-based training.

• Implementation of targeted attack e-mail response training

For all employees, including officers, we conduct targeted attack e-mail response training (once or twice a year) and distribute ISMS education cards to alert them to security issues and inform them of the contact information in case of a security incident.

• Education for departmental information security officers

Twice a year, information security management education is conducted for personnel in charge of handling confidential information and information security promoters in each department.

Product security

• Product security countermeasures subcommittee

Under the information security officers’ committee, we have established a product security countermeasures subcommittee, an organizational body that manages security operations from product development to disposal, and conducts regular management of product security. By continuing these activities, we ensure the daily safety and security of our customers.

• PSIRT

This countermeasures subcommittee has established a PSIRT (Product Security Incident Response Team) to collect industry information from organizations such as Auto-ISAC^*, a North American automotive cybersecurity organization that collects and analyzes product-related security information, in preparation for product security attacks.

* Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center

• Product security reporting and audits

We conduct audits every year to comply with and improve organizational systems and regulations and procedures related to product security. The product security countermeasures subcommittee regularly reports on the progress of development and the status of the PSIRT, as well as objective status reports through audits, in order to speedily deal with attacks related to product security.

Initiatives related to intellectual property

Suzuki has made it the first part of its Mission Statement to “develop products of superior value by focusing on the customer.” The Company conducts intellectual property activities basically for rights formalization of knowledge and technology that create value, and protects, accumulates and utilizes these rights as intangible assets.
The core of these intellectual property strategies lies in “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty),” which is the root of Suzuki’s philosophy and culture and also contributes to carbon neutrality. Based on the Philosophy of Conduct “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty),” each and every employee will respond to the diversifying needs of customers and society with wisdom and ingenuity. They will design and develop products with original ideas that are unique to Suzuki, inspiring amazement, and will continue to create intellectual property.

Promotion structure

● Intellectual Property Promotion Committee

● Review of system for creating intellectual property

Under the technology strategy announced in July 2024, the design and development department and the intellectual property department will collaborate, embedding intellectual property staff in the development site focused on energy minimization. This collaboration aims to transform on-site inspiration and ideas into competitive patent rights.
In conjunction with the new human resources system launched this fiscal year, the Company is establishing a framework to recognize employees who contribute to the creation of intellectual property. This initiative aims to accelerate the growth of individual employees in intellectual property creation, thereby further enhancing the Company’s earning power.

● Enhancing incentives to create intellectual property through a reward system

In April 2023, Suzuki revised the reward system for intellectual property to make individual employees who create intellectual property feel “praised,” “recognized” or “highly commended.” Incentives for creating intellectual property were also strengthened in such ways as, in particular, having the inventors of patents chosen by general managers for embodying as products Suzuki’s unique “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty),” being presented with awards directly by the President at Company-wide events, holding roundtable talks among the inventors, the President and officers, and disclosing scenes of such events on the Company intranet. In June of this year, we conducted a survey among employees regarding the revised reward system. By making improvements based on the results of that survey, we are promoting activities to continually make the system even better. The focus of this fiscal year’s presidential award are the nine patents described in the next section, “Achievements of ‘Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi.’”

A roundtable discussion between inventors, the President and officers

Achievements of “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi”

● Fixed structure for vehicle power supply

<Patent key point>

To protect the MHEV lithium-ion battery during side collisions, the design was achieved not by adding components, but by incorporating a subtraction approach of creating a designated weak point.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Smaller: Space-saving
• Fewer: Limits the increase in the number of components
• Lighter: Avoids an increase in weight associated with added components

● Cover structure for internal combustion engine

<Patent key point>

To ensure the rigidity of the engine case at the actuator support component for the electric VVT, the oil gallery wall was utilized as a structural reinforcement.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Fewer: Limits the increase in the number of components
• Lighter: Avoids an increase in weight

● Electrical component support structure

<Patent key point>

Harness routing successfully designed to protect the wire harness of the MHEV lithium-ion battery during a side collision.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Smaller: Space-saving
• Shorter: Wire harness shortened

● Steering device for electric vehicles

<Patent key point>

A structure for the electric senior vehicles that allows a steering wheel that was in a fixed position to be unlocked when driving straight ahead and switching from autonomous to manual driving mode, improving convenience for the user.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Fewer: Eliminates discomfort and improves user convenience

● Driver assistance device

<Patent key point>

Improved driver operability by automatically transitioning to auto-park standby mode upon detection of an available parking space within a parking lot.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Shorter: Shortened parking operation time

● Engine fuel supply device

<Patent key point>

Achieved a compact injector layout for CNG bi-fuel vehicles, resulting in weight savings.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Smaller: Space-saving
• Fewer: Improved ease of maintenance
• Lighter: Weight savings due to a highly space-efficient layout

● Straddle-type vehicle

<Patent key point>

Improved the mountability of the onboard charger for EV scooters, enabling shortening of the wire harness between the battery and the charger.

<Unique to Suzuki>

• Smaller: Space-saving
• Shorter: Wire harness shortened

Various initiatives concerning intellectual property

● Enhancing patent applications in India

Suzuki has been enhancing patent applications in India, which is one of Suzuki’s primary markets. Following Japan, where we have the most rights acquired (approximately 4,300), we have currently acquired and maintain over 1,800 patents in India.

● Periodic provision of the latest patent-related information

As one benchmark, we promote viewing technological information by providing^* the latest patent-related information about business inside and outside the Company in an easyto- view format, and support manufacturing and the realization of customers’ desires.

* Once a week as a rule

● Conducting systematic intellectual property training

Suzuki also concentrates on intellectual property training by rank, implements stratified training with a focus on patent law*1 and copyright law^*2, and promotes the importance of preserving and utilizing intellectual property throughout the entire company.

• *1 Training conducted for a total of more than 3,200 people, primarily junior engineers in their second to third year with the Company. The program is ongoing.
• *2 E-learning targeting all employees given to approximately 14,000 people (through FY2023) Group training conducted for new employees since 2019 (over 2,300 people through FY2023). On-demand training conducted for newly appointed managers since 2020 (approximately 1,200 people through FY2023).