Suzuki Motor Corporation celebrated its 100th anniversary on 15 March 2020.
Suzuki’s history goes back to 1909, when Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Works, which is the precursor of the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company founded on 15 March 1920 in the present-day Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Since then, Suzuki has expanded its business from looms to motorcycles, automobiles, outboard motors, ATV’s and others, always adapting to the trend of the times.
After changing the name to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. in 1954, it launched the Suzulight, the first mass-produced minivehicle in Japan*1, and many other products which are developed focusing on customers. The company name was changed to “Suzuki Motor Corporation” in 1990 in view of its business expansion and globalization.
The journey of 100 years was never easy. To overcome a number of crises since the foundation, all members of Suzuki united as one and continued to make the company thrive.
Suzuki has grown to a company with many fans across the globe, and even today, its unchanging spirit of manufacturing are passed on. Marking the beginning of the next century this year, all members of Suzuki are committed to achieve even greater business performance.
*1 Based on Suzuki research
This year we are celebrating our 100th anniversary.
On 15th of March, 1920, Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. in Hamamatsu.
Since then, we have expanded our business from looms to motorcycles, automobiles, outboard motors, ATV’s and others, always adapting to the trend of the times as well as domestic and global markets.
Your kind support at all times is truly the greatest factor that has enabled us to always be close to our customers’ daily lives and achieve the commemorative 100th anniversary.
All members of Suzuki Motor Corporation take this as an important milestone to reaffirm the founder’s philosophy of “focusing on customers” and strive to deliver products to customers across the globe.
This year also marks the beginning of the next century, and we all are committed to achieve even greater business performance in such important year.
We sincerely appreciated your continuous support.
Suzuki Motor Corporation
Representative Director and Chairman
Osamu Suzuki
Representative Director and President
Toshihiro Suzuki
The logo was established to commemorate the 100th anniversary.
The unique shape of “0” expresses the 100 years of Suzuki, while also putting in our wish for our company to continue ∞ (infinitely). It is also a motif of tires, which represent mobility. The three lines that follow the tires express the refreshing feeling of driving, as well as each product of motorcycle, automobile, and outboard motor.
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, the “100th anniversary special website” will be up on 15 March 2020. Information related to the 100th anniversary will be updated from time to time on the site.
https://www.globalsuzuki.com/100th/
Year | Month | Episode |
---|---|---|
1909 | Oct. | Michio Suzuki founds Suzuki Loom Works in the present-day Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. |
1920 | Mar. | Company is reorganized, incorporated, and capitalized at ¥500,000 as Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. with Michio Suzuki as President. |
1947 | May | Suzuki moves its head office to the present address. |
1952 | June | Suzuki enters the motor-vehicle field with the launch of the Power Free 36cc, 2-stroke auxiliary bicycle engine. |
1954 | June | Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. |
1955 | Oct. | Suzulight 360cc, 2-stroke minivehicle debuts, helping to usher in Japan’s minivehicle age. |
1957 | Feb. | Shunzo Suzuki is appointed as President. |
1958 | Oct. | Suzuki adopts the mark as its corporate emblem. |
1960 | Mar. | Automobile assembly plant is completed. |
1961 | Aug. | First export of motorcycles to Taiwan under knock-down system. |
Sept. | Suzuki completes a plant for minitrucks in Toyokawa, Aichi, and starts production of the Suzulight Carry 360cc, 2-stroke minitruck. | |
1962 | June | Suzuki wins the 50cc-class championship in the Isle of Man TT race. |
1965 | Apr. | Suzuki enters the outboard motor field with the launch of D55 5.5-horsepower, 2-stroke outboard motor. |
1967 | Mar. | Thai Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. is established for assembly in Thailand (first motorcycle plant outside Japan). |
Aug. | Iwata Plant is built for automobiles in Iwata, Shizuoka. | |
1970 | Jan. | Osuka Plant is built for foundry operations in the present-day Kakegawa, Shizuoka. |
Apr. | Jimny 360cc, 2-stroke mini 4x4 vehicle debuts. | |
Oct. | Kosai Plant is built for automobiles in the present-day Kosai, Shizuoka. | |
- | Motorcycle assembly begins in Indonesia. | |
1971 | Oct. | Toyokawa Plant is built for production of medium-size and large motorcycles in Toyokawa, Aichi. |
1973 | May | Jitsujiro Suzuki is appointed as President. |
1974 | Apr. | Suzuki enters the medical equipment field with the launch of the Motor Chair Z600 motorized wheelchair. |
1975 | May | Suzuki begins its first overseas car production with assembly of the Jimny 4x4 car in Pakistan. |
1976 | - | Automobile production starts in Indonesia. |
1978 | June | Osamu Suzuki is appointed as President. |
1979 | May | Alto 550cc, 2-stroke minivehicle debuts. |
1982 | Apr. | Suzuki and the Indian Government sign a basic agreement on joint production of Suzuki cars. |
1983 | Dec. | Production of Suzuki cars begins at Maruti Udyog Ltd. in India. |
1990 | Oct. | Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Corporation. |
1991 | Apr. | Suzuki signs a car production contract in Hungary. Magyar Suzuki Corp. is established. |
1993 | Sept. | Wagon R (660cc) minivehicle debuts. |
1994 | Nov. | Sagara engine plant is completed in the present-day Makinohara, Shizuoka. |
2000 | June | Masao Toda is appointed as President and COO, and Osamu Suzuki is appointed as Chairman and CEO. |
2002 | May | Suzuki gains a majority stake in Indian automaker Maruti Udyog Ltd. |
2003 | Apr. | Hiroshi Tsuda is appointed as President and COO. |
2007 | July | Suzuki changes the name of its Indian subsidiary to Maruti Suzuki. |
2008 | July | Sagara Plant (automobile assembly plant) is completed in Makinohara, Shizuoka. |
2015 | June | Toshihiro Suzuki is appointed as President. |
2016 | Oct. | Suzuki and Toyota announce the start of exploring business partnership. |
2017 | Feb. | Gujarat plant in India starts operation. |
Toyota and Suzuki conclude memorandum toward business partnership. | ||
2018 | Mar. | Toyota and Suzuki reach basic agreement toward mutual supply of hybrid and other vehicles in India. |
Sept. | Hamamatsu Plant is built in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, and begins motorcycles production. | |
2019 | Aug. | Toyota and Suzuki enter into capital alliance agreement. |