Suzuki Samurai

is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Minami-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. Suzuki manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines. In 2016, Suzuki was the eleventh biggest automaker by production worldwide.
Suzuki has over 45,000 employees and has 35 production facilities in 23 countries, and 133 distributors in 192 countries. The worldwide sales volume of automobiles is the world's tenth largest, while domestic sales volume is the third largest in the country.

Suzuki's domestic motorcycle sales volume is the third largest in Japan.

History

In 1909, Michio Suzuki (1887–1982) founded the Suzuki Loom Works in the small seacoast village of Hamamatsu, Japan. Business boomed as Suzuki built weaving looms for Japan's giant silk industry. In 1929, Michio Suzuki invented a new type of weaving machine, which was exported overseas. The company's first 30 years focused on the development and production of these machines.

Despite the success of his looms, Suzuki believed that his company would benefit from diversification and he began to look at other products. Based on consumer demand, he decided that building a small car would be the most practical new venture. The project began in 1937, and within two years Suzuki had completed several compact prototype cars. These first Suzuki motor vehicles were powered by a then-innovative, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder engine. It had a cast aluminum crankcase and gearbox and generated from a displacement of less than 800cc.

With the onset of World War II, production plans for Suzuki's new vehicles were halted when the government declared civilian passenger cars a "non-essential commodity." At the conclusion of the war, Suzuki went back to producing looms. Loom production was given a boost when the U.S. government approved the shipping of cotton to Japan. Suzuki's fortunes brightened as orders began to increase from domestic textile manufacturers. But the joy was short-lived as the cotton market collapsed in 1951.

Faced with this colossal challenge, Suzuki returned to the production of motor vehicles. After the war, the Japanese had a great need for affordable, reliable personal transportation. A number of firms began offering "clip-on" gas-powered engines that could be attached to the typical bicycle. Suzuki's first two-wheeled vehicle was a bicycle fitted with a motor called, the "Power Free." Designed to be inexpensive and simple to build and maintain, the 1952 Power Free had a 36 cc, one horsepower, two-stroke engine. The new double-sprocket gear system enabled the rider to either pedal with the engine assisting, pedal without engine assist, or simply disconnect the pedals and run on engine power alone. The patent office of the new democratic government granted Suzuki a financial subsidy to continue research in motorcycle engineering.

By 1954, Suzuki was producing 6,000 motorcycles per month and his company had officially changed its name to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. Following the success of his first motorcycles, Suzuki created an even more successful automobile: the 1955 Suzuki Suzulight. The Suzulight sold with front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, which were not common on cars until three decades later.

Volkswagen held a 19.9% non-controlling shareholding in Suzuki between 2009 and 2015. This situation did not last, as Suzuki accused Volkswagen of not sharing promised technology while Volkswagen objected to a deal where Suzuki purchased diesel engines from Fiat. An international arbitration court ordered Volkswagen to sell the stake back to Suzuki. Suzuki paid $3.8bn to complete the stock buy-back in September 2015.

Leadership

The company was founded by Michio Suzuki; its current Chairman is Osamu Suzuki, the fourth adopted son-in-law in a row to run the company, Osamu Suzuki, the 91 year old Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, will retire in June 2021, handing over to his son Toshihiro.

Timeline

The Suzuki Loom Company started in 1909 as a manufacturer of looms for weaving silk and cotton. Michio Suzuki was intent on making better, more user-friendly looms and, for 30 years his focus was on the development of these machines. Michio's desire to diversify into automotive products was interrupted by World War II. Before it began building four-stroke engines, Suzuki Motor Corp. was known for its two-stroke engines (for motorcycles and autos). After the war, Suzuki made a two-stroke motorized bicycle, but eventually the company would be known for Hayabusa and GSX-R motorcycles, for the QuadRunner, and for dominating racetracks around the world. Even after producing its first car in 1955 the company didn't have an automobile division until 1961. Today Suzuki is among the world's largest automakers, and a major brand name in important markets, including Japan and India, but no longer sells cars in North America.

1909–1959

* 1909: Michio Suzuki founds Suzuki Loom Works founded in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
* 1920: Company is reorganized, incorporated, and capitalized at ¥500,000 as Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. with Michio Suzuki as president.
* 1937: Suzuki begins a project to diversify into manufacturing small cars. Within two years several innovative prototypes are completed, but the government declares civilian passenger cars a "non-essential commodity" at the onset of World War II, thwarting production plans.
* 1940: Takatsuka Plant is built in Kami-mura, Hamana-gun, Shizuoka, Japan.
* 1945: Plants close due to severe war damage. Company offices move to the Takatsuka Plant site.
* 1947: Head office moves to the present address.
* 1949: Company lists on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya Stock Exchanges.
* 1950: Company has financial crisis due to labor difficulties.
* 1952: "Power Free" motorized bicycle marketed.
* 1953: Introduction of Diamond Free 60cc, 2-cycle motorized bicycle, displacement subsequently increases to 70cc.
* 1954: Company name changed to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd.
* 1955: Introduction of Colleda COX 125cc 4-stroke single-cylinder, and Colleda ST 125cc, two-stroke single-cylinder motorcycles.
** Suzulight (360cc, two-stroke) front wheel drive car introduced at the start of Japan's minivehicle age.
* 1957: Michio Suzuki designated as adviser, and his son Shunzo Suzuki appointed as company president.
* 1958: S mark adopted as corporate emblem.
* 1959: Launch of Colleda Sel Twin (2-cylinder) 125cc, two-stroke motorcycle with electric starter.
** Introduction of all-new Suzulight TL 360cc light commercial, two-stroke minivehicle.
** 26 September, Typhoon Vera (''Ise-Wan'') destroys Suzuki's assembly plant.

1960–1969

* 1960: In March Suzuki's new modern assembly line plant is finished.
**Suzuki enter a motorcycle race team into Grands Prix under the manufacturing name ''Colleda'' with riders Toshio Matsumoto, Michio Ichino and Ray Fay, placing 15th, 16th, and 18th in Isle of Man TT races.
* 1961: Separation of the loom machine division from the motor company, as Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co.
**Suzuki enter race motorcycles of RT61 125 cc and RV61 250 cc into Grands Prix under the Suzuki name Motorcycle Mechanics, August 1961, p.71 Suzuki Motor Co Ltd full-page factory advert, Suzuki 250 TB. ''Suzuki Motor Company are sending six Suzuki Manufacturer's racers RT-61 125cc and six racers RV-61 250cc to six Grands Prix races Isle of Man, Assen, Spa, Belfast, Monza and Kristianspat''. Accessed 2014-03-29 with two riders from the team of Mitsuo Itoh, Michio Ichino, Sadao Masuda, Toshio Matsumoto, Paddy Driver, Hugh Anderson and Alastair King placing 10th and 12th in 250 cc Isle of Man TT races.
**Production of the Suzulight Carry 360cc, two-stroke lightweight truck begins at new plant in Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
* 1962: First victory in the inaugural season of 50 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing comes at the end of a three-way battle between Suzuki, Honda and Kreidler at the Isle of Man TT. The winning RM62 machine was ridden by Ernst Degner who had defected from the East German MZ team to Suzuki the previous year.
* 1963: Mitsuo Itoh makes history as the first Japanese rider to win the Isle of Man TT, when he takes the lead on the last lap of the 50cc race after Suzuki teammate Degner breaks down. Suzuki wins both the rider's and manufacturer's championships, in both 50cc and 125cc classes, for this season of World Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
** Subsidiary company opens in Los Angeles, to enter the American motorcycle market, as U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp.
* 1965: Enters outboard motor market with the launch of D55 5.5 hp, two-stroke engine.
** Introduction of Fronte 800 two-stroke subcompact passenger vehicle.
** T20 motorcycle introduced as "the fastest 250cc motorcycle in the world", aimed at the US market but gets worldwide attention.

* 1967: Thailand gets the first motorcycle assembly plant outside Japan, creating Thai Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd.
** Automobile plant built in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan.
** Debut of Fronte 360cc, two-stroke minivehicle.
* 1968: After a winning 1967 season, the Suzuki motorcycle race team withdraws from World Grand Prix due to changes in FIM rules. Hans-Georg Anscheidt rides a 1967 machine in 1968 as a privateer, for the seventh season of Suzuki GP championships.
** Introduction of Carry Van 360cc, two-stroke minivan with a full cab over design.
** Launch of T500 motorcycle with an air-cooled parallel-twin 500cc engine, the largest displacement of any two-stroke at the time.
* 1969: Motorcycle plant built in Oyabe, Toyama, Japan.

1970–1979

* 1970: Foundry is built in Ogasa, Shizuoka, Japan; automobile plant is built in Kosai, Shizuoka.
** Frank Whiteway easily wins the 500cc class at the Isle of Man TT race on a production T500 motorcycle prepared by Eddie Crooks.
** LJ10, the first mass-production 4x4 domestic mini-car, becomes available in Japan, powered by a 360cc twin cylinder air-cooled two-stroke engine.
* 1971: Production plant for medium to large motorcycles is built in Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan.
** GT750 motorcycle debuts with a liquid-cooled two-stroke straight-three engine.
** Suzuki's production motocrosser, the TM400, arrives to participate in 500cc class Motocross World Championship racing.
** Suzuki rider Roger De Coster becomes the 500cc class World Motocross Champion on his 396cc RN71 factory machine, while teammate (and fellow Belgian) Joel Robert becomes 250cc class champion.
* 1972: Suzuki Parts Manufacturing Company, Ltd., is established in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
** The Hustler 400 ( TS400) motorcycle released as a street version of the TM400.
* 1973: Jitsujiro Suzuki appointed as president, and Shunzo Suzuki appointed as chairman.
** Canadian subsidiary set up in North York, as Suzuki Canada Ltd., to supply machines and parts to motorcycle dealers in Canada.
* 1974: Indonesian subsidiary established in Jakarta as P.T. Suzuki Indonesia Manufacturing.
** Company enters into medical equipment field with launch of the Suzuki Motor Chair Z600 motorized wheelchair.
** Expansion into the housing field initiated with Suzuki Home marketing two models of prefab "Mini-House" and three types of storage sheds.
** RE5 introduced as the first Japanese (production) motorcycle with a rotary engine in the world.
* 1975: Delays in compliance with car emission regulations cause severe difficulties for the company.
** Philippine distributor Rufino D. Antonio and Associates institute a joint venture with Suzuki (Japan) under the name of Antonio Suzuki Corporation, to expand motorcycle sales in the Philippines.
** LJ50 (Jimny) 4x4 released in Australia with a more powerful, export-only, 550 cc liquid-cooled two-stroke straight-three engine.
** RM125 introduced as a production version of the works machine RA75 on which Gaston Rahier won the 125cc World Motocross GP championship. From 1975 to 1984, Suzuki dominates this class 10 years in a row with Gaston Rahier, Akira Watanabe, Harry Everts, Eric Geboers and Michele Rinaldi.
** Assembly outside Japan commences for the first time, in Pakistan. Assembly kits of the ST90 Carry and LJ80 (Jimny) are shipped, both with 800 cc engines. Production and sales were done by two local entities (Sind Engineering and Naya Dauer Motor) under the auspices of PACO (Pakistan Automobile Corporation).
* 1976: GS Series motorcycles released, the GS750 and GS400 are the first four-stroke machines from Suzuki in 20 years.
**Pops Yoshimura enters the GS750 for the first time in the AMA Superbike series, wins at Laguna Seca Raceway. Barry Sheene wins 500cc World Championship for Suzuki
* 1977: Debut of Cervo two-stroke minivehicle for domestic market, export version introduced the next year with four-stroke engine.
** Last of the LJ utility 4x4 series, the LJ80, gets a new four-cylinder water-cooled 800cc four-stroke engine, and is exported to Australia and Europe the following year. Barry Sheene wins second 500cc World Championship for Suzuki
* 1978: Appointment of Osamu Suzuki as president, Jitsujiro Suzuki appointed as chairman.
** The flagship model of the GS Series, the GS1000E, becomes available as Suzuki's first 1-liter machine.
** A Yoshimura GS1000 ridden by Californians Mike Baldwin and Wes Cooley wins the first Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race.
* 1979: Alto two-stroke minivehicle introduced. This car was a massive success, propelling Suzuki into seventh place amongst Japanese car and truck manufacturers, and helped the company's bargaining position when later linking up with Isuzu and General Motors.

1980–1989

* 1980: Suzuki Australia Pty. Ltd. established in Sydney, Australia.
** Suzuki enters general-purpose engine field by marketing three electric power generator models.
** Launch of the GSX series of motorcycles with four-stroke, DOHC four-valve engines.
* 1981: Consolidated (i.e., including subsidiaries) sales for the fiscal year reach ¥500 billion.
** General Motors and Isuzu Motors announce cooperation with Suzuki Motor Company in the production and marketing of new "mini-cars". GM purchases a 5.3% stake in Suzuki.
** The RG Gamma (RG Γ) makes its first appearance in Grand Prix motorcycle racing; Suzuki wins sixth-consecutive manufacturer's title, and Suzuki rider Marco Lucchinelli becomes the 500 cc class champion.
** German designer Hans A. Muth uses the motif of the samurai sword to create the original GSX1100S Katana, a motorcycle that "typifies Suzuki".
** Production begins on a second generation of 4x4 utility vehicles with 1-liter engines; the SJ410 is designed for export and sold as the Suzuki Samurai in Canada, and as the Jimny 1000 in some markets.
* 1982: Aggregate (i.e., sum-total) motorcycle production at the Toyama Plant reaches 5 million units.
** Italian Franco Uncini, riding a Roberto Gallina racing team RG Γ motorcycle, takes the Grand Prix championship in the 500 cc class. Suzuki wins the manufacturer's title for the seventh consecutive year.
** Masaru Mizutani on his RG Γ takes first place in seven consecutive events and wins the All Japan Road Race Championship for the 500cc class.
** The company and the Government of India set up Maruti Udyog Ltd. as a joint venture for automobile production and distribution.
** The company signs a technological tie-up contract with Land-Rover Santana S.A., Spain.
** Car production begins at Pak Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. in Karachi, Pakistan. A joint venture with Pakistan Automobile Corporation (PACO), Pak Suzuki was established in September 1982 as Awami Auto Limited.
** New Alto minivehicle debuts.
** The very first production four-wheel all-terrain vehicle is released; the QuadRunner 125 begins the era of four-wheelers and transforms the ATV industry.

* 1983: Jitsujiro Suzuki steps down from the chairmanship.
** A second Kosai, Shizuoka automobile plant is built for compact cars.
** The RG250Γ motorcycle is released as the first-ever full-blown racer-replica, with technology developed for the racetrack.
** Launch of the Mighty Boy 550cc, 4-cycle mini commercial vehicle.
** The Cultus (Swift/Forsa/SA310) 1-liter passenger vehicle debuts.
** Production of Suzuki cars begins at Maruti Udyog Ltd. in New Delhi, India.

* 1984: Suzuki New Zealand Ltd. established in Wanganui, New Zealand. Suzuki France S.A. is established in Trappes, France. Suzuki Motor GmbH Deutschland is established in Heppenheim, Germany.
** Suzuki starts exporting 1-liter Cultus to U.S. automaker General Motors Corp.
** An upgraded SJ 4x4, with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed gearbox, is released. The SJ413 is sold in the U.S. market (as the Samurai) the following year, and ultimately in over 100 countries.
** Suzuki signs a car production technical assistance contract with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation.
** Introduction of the GSX-R750 motorcycle with an oil-cooled 4-cylinder DOHC engine.
* 1985: Aggregate sales of Alto in Japan reach 1 million units.
** Suzuki of America Automotive Corp. established in Brea, California. Samurai introduced in USA.
** Company signs a motorcycle production technical tie-up contract with Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co., Ltd. in China.
** Production of Suzuki cars begins at Santana S.A., Spain. The factory is in Linares, Andalusia.
** Scooter production started at Avello S.A. of Spain.
* 1986: American Suzuki Motor Corp. is established in Brea, California, to consolidate operations in USA.
** Suzuki reaches an agreement with General Motors Corp. of Canada for cooperation in establishment of a joint venture company.

* 1987: Aggregate car exports from Japan reach 2 million units. Annual global sales of automobiles reach 1 million units.
** Cultus/Swift production began in Colombia.
** Suzuki reaches an agreement with Mazda Motor Corp. for cooperation in production of micro-mini vehicles.
* 1988: Escudo (Vitara/Sidekick) 1.6-liter, four-cycle compact 4x4 vehicle debuts.
** Magazine published by Consumers Union claims the Samurai 4x4 is prone to rolling over. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rejects demands for a Samurai recall.
** Swift sales begin in the United States.
* 1989: Aggregate car production reached 10 million units.
** Production of Suzuki cars begins at CAMI Automotive Inc. in Ontario, Canada.
** Sidekick sales begin in the United States.

1990–1999

* 1990: Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Corporation.
** Kei car standards are upgraded. New mini-vehicles are released under the latest specifications: engine capacity raised to 660cc; overall length extended to .
* 1991: Consolidated sales reach ¥1 trillion.
** Suzuki signs a car production contract in Hungary, establishing Magyar Suzuki Corporation.
** Production of Suzuki cars begins in Korea through a technical tie-up with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Heavy Machinery Ltd.
** Cappuccino mini two-seater convertible debuts.
* 1992: Production of Suzuki cars begins at the new plant of Pak Suzuki Motors