Suzuki - 100 years of Innovation

Suzuki; a global company that continues to grow in reputation, popularity and success celebrated its centenary this October. Back in 1909, Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Company in Hamamatsu, Southern Japan and it was while manufacturing looms for production of plain white fabric he learned that weavers wanted looms that could produce cloth with vertical and horizontal stripes, so he developed a unique loom capable of weaving patterned cloth from dyed yarn. Suzuki's new innovation represented the start of an uncompromising focus on creating products that meet people's needs and realise new lifestyle possibilities.

Suzuki expanded into production of motorcycles in 1952 with the 'Power Free' using a 36cc two stroke engine. The Power Free was simple in design, offered very easy maintenance and was unique at that time as it could be ridden fully motorised, partially motorised or by using the pedals without any engine assistance. Just a year later, Suzuki was building 6,000 motorcycles per month.

Suzuki car production began in 1955 with the Suzulight, a compact car with a 360cc two-stroke engine. The Suzulight was one of the first cars to feature front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. Suzuki's off-road vehicle heritage began in 1970 with the launch of the LJ series lightweight 4x4.

The first Marine outboard motor was introduced in 1965, then pre-fabricated houses in 1974; general purpose engines in 1980 and its first All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in 1982. Aggregate car production 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 breaking the 2 million units barrier in 2005 and total car production reaching 40 million units in 2008.

In 2008, Suzuki sold 2.3 million cars globally and European car sales amounted to 315,000. The same creativity and dedication of Michio Suzuki underpin Suzuki's development of its world strategic models. The first one in this category, the Swift, is produced in Japan, Hungary, India, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Malaysia. The current Swift was introduced in 2005 and last year, aggregate production of the super mini reached 1 million units. 2009 is also a celebration of 25 years of Swift in Europe.

In 2006, Suzuki created its second world strategic model, the Grand Vitara, as an evolution of the first-generation Vitara series, with which it pioneered the market for compact sport utility vehicles 21 years ago. Worldwide production of the Grand Vitara has now reached 2.6 million units. The third model, the SX4 sport crossover, proved to have such outstanding chassis potential when launched in 2006 that Suzuki ran it in the World Rally Championship in 2007 and 2008 (45 years after Suzuki's participation in the first Japanese Grand Prix in 1963). Whereas the Swift, Grand Vitara, and SX4 reflect a focus on sportiness, the fourth Suzuki model, the Splash, reflects a focus on families and highlights the effectiveness with which a compact car can meet family needs.

Suzuki's important European manufacturing plant is based at Esztergom in Hungary. The plant has the capacity to build more than 280,000 units and produces Swift, SX4 and Splash which is the first model Suzuki has exported from Europe back to Japan. Production of the Splash recently started in India for their domestic market.

In March this year, the seventh generation Alto was launched; named after the car with which Suzuki has dominated the mini vehicle segment in Japan for 30 years. The Alto is the smallest of Suzuki's world models and reflects a focus on eco friendliness with emissions of just 103g/km and combined fuel consumption of 64.2mpg.

Alto is built near Delhi, India, a continent where Suzuki has a 50 percent share of the passenger car market. 2009 is also an important milestone for Alto as 10 million have been sold globally since 1979. Indian car production began in 1973 with the Maruti 800, a low cost family car that brought mobility to millions. To put this into perspective, of the 11 million passenger cars currently on the roads of India, more than seven and a half million are Suzuki's and four million of those are Alto's.

Looking to the future, Suzuki plan to concentrate strongly on lowering emissions even further and presented Stop/Start concepts as well as a new variable valve timing system at the Geneva Motor show in March. This technology will reduce emissions of Alto to 95g/km and Splash to 109g/km. In the longer term, further development includes the eventual introduction of Hydrogen fuel cell technology for its medium size vehicles and Suzuki recently tested an SX4 Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) on public roads in Japan.

In 2008 Suzuki was the 10th largest auto maker in terms of vehicle sales. With more than 50,600 staff working in sectors that include automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors, Suzuki is active in 196 countries and regions, with production bases in 23 countries. The Alto is the latest Suzuki introduced in Australia.

Significant Suzuki automobiles
-Suzulight - Suzuki's first car, built in 1955.
-Suzulight 360 - 1962 this model was the first Suzuki to have a long production run.
-Fronte - 1964 the two stroke Fronte sedan was introduced. It featured front wheel drive with four fully synchronised gears and fully independent suspension.
-Fronte 360 - In 1967 the Suzulight was replaced by the Fronte 360 or LC10 with a compact, lightweight rear engine 3-cylinder, two stroke. It had three carburetors and 7 crankshaft bearings. It had a top speed of 58 mph.
-Fronte/Alto/Cervo - the range of small Suzuki cars was renewed in 1970 with the Fronte LC 50.
-1977 the 539cc Cervo was introduced.
-1979 the front wheel drive Alto was released.
-Swift was launched in 1983
-Jimny launched in 1970
-Suzuki launched a range of small commercial vans - the Every and Carry.
-The SX4 was an urban 4x4
-New Alto introduced in 2009.

100 Years of Suzuki milestones
1981 - October: GSX 1100S Katana 1100cc, 4-cylinder motorcycle debuts in overseas markets.
1982 - February: Love 50cc, 2-cylinder lightweight scooter and GSX750S motorcycle debuts.
1982 - March: Aggregate motorcycle production at the Toyama Plant reaches 5 million units.
1982 - June: New Alto small car debuts.
1982 - August: LT125 125cc, 4-cylinder all-terrain vehicle debuts. Jimny 1000 1.0-litre 4x4 vehicle debuts.
1982 - September: Production of Suzuki cars begins at Pak Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. in Pakistan.
1982 - December: Suzuki signs a technological tie-up basic contract with Land-Rover Spain.
1983 - January: Ran 50cc, 2-cylinder scooter debuts.
1983 - February: Mighty Boy 550cc, 4-cylinder small light commercial vehicle debuts.
1983 - March: RG250G 250cc, 2-cylinder sport bike debuts.
1983 - April: DT60 60hp, 2-cylinder, DT 75 75ph, 2-cylinder and DT 85 85ph, 2-cylinder oil-injection motors debut.
1983 - August: Kosai Second Plant is built for compact automobiles in Kosai, Shizuoka, Japan.
1983 - October: Swift/Forsa 1.0-litre passenger vehicle debuts.
1983 - December: Production of Suzuki cars begins in New Delhi, India.
1984 - February: Suzuki New Zealand Ltd. (a direct sales and knockdown production subsidiary) is established in Wanganui, New Zealand.
1984 - March: GSX-R 400cc, 4-cylinder sport bike debuts.
1984 - April: Suzuki starts exporting 1.0-litre cars to US automaker General Motors
1984 - August: Suzuki wins the driver championship for the 10th consecutive year at the World Motorcross Grand Prix 125.
1984 - September: New Alto and New Fronte 550cc, 4-cylinder small vehicles debut. Suzuki subsidiary is established in Germany.
1984 - November: Jimny 1300 4x4 vehicle series debut.
1985 - March: GSX-R750 750cc, 4-cylinder motorcycle debuts. Production of Suzuki cars begins in Spain.
1985 - June: Aggregate sales of Alto in Japan reach 1 million units.
1986 - August: Suzuki of America Automotive Corp. (a car sales subsidiary) is established in California, USA.
1987 - February: Alto Works, 550cc, 4-cylinder small car debuts.
1987 - May: Aggregate sales of Carry in Japan reach 2 million units. Aggregate exports of Suzuki cars from Japan reach 2 million units.
1987 - December: Suzuki reaches an agreement with Mazda Motor Corp. for cooperation in production of compact vehicles.
1988 - January: New Cervo 550cc, 4-cylinder small car debuts.
1988 - April: Suzuki starts marketing passenger vehicles of General Motors Corp. in Japan.
1988 - May: Vitara 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder compact 4x4 vehicle debuts.
1989 - February: Manufacturing facility of Suzuki Egypt completed.
1989 - April: Production of Suzuki cars begins in Canada. Suzuki reaches an agreement with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. for joint development of small trucks in Indonesia.
1989 - July: Aggregate car production reaches 10 million worldwide. Sales of Alto in Japan reach 2 million units.
1990 - July: Cervo Mode 660cc, 4-cylinder vehicle debuts. Aggregate car production at the Iwata Plant reaches 5 million units.
1990 - September: Vitara compact 4x4 vehicle 5-door version debuts.
1990 - October: Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Corporation.
1991 - May: Production of Suzuki cars begins in Korea through a technical tie-up with Daewoo Ship building and Heavy Machinery Ltd.
1991 - September: New Every and new Carry vehicles debut.
1991 - November: Cappuccino mini two-seat convertible debuts.
1992 - January: Production of Suzuki cars begins at the new plant in Pakistan.
1992 - November: Miyakoda R&D Centre is established in Miyakoda, Shizuoka, Japan.
1993 - April: Suzuki signs a joint venture contract for production of passenger cars and motorcycles in China.
1993 - May: Jimny Sierra 1300 4x4 car debuts.
1993 - September: Wagon R debuts
1994 - March: Suzuki and Isuzu Motors Ltd. agree to dissolve their business tie-up.
1994 - November: New Alto debuts.
1995 - January: Aggregate exports of Suzuki motorcycles from Japan reach 20 million units. Aggregate sales of Suzuki vehicles in Japan reach 10 million units. Baleno passenger vehicle debuts.
1996 - October: Aggregate sales of Carry in Japan reach 3 million units.
1996 - November: Production of Suzuki cars and motorcycles begins in Vietnam.
1997 - February: Wagon R Wide (Wagon R+) 1.0-litre passenger vehicle debuts.
1997 - March: Aggregate export units of automobiles from Japan reach 10 million units.
1997 - April: DF9.9 and DF15 4-cycle outboard motors debut.
1997 - July: Shimokawa Proving Grounds are set up in Hokkaido, Shizuoka, Japan.
1997 - August: All of Suzuki's plants in Japan simultaneously receive ISO9002 quality-assurance certification.
1997 - November: Grand Vitara compact 4x4 vehicle debuts.
1998 - January: Jimny Wide compact 4x4 vehicle debuts.
1998 - May: Suzuki and General Motors Corporation agree on joint development of compact vehicles in Europe.
1998 - September: Suzuki and General Motors Corp. agree to strengthen the business tie-up and forming a strategic alliance. General Motors Corp. changes its equity stake in Suzuki from 3.3% to 10%.
1998 - October: New Alto, Wagon R and Jimny debut simultaneously. Suzuki starts supplying motorcycle engine technology to Aprilia in Italy.
1999 - January: New Carry and Every debut. GSX 1300R Hayabusa 1300cc, 4-cycle motorcycle (export model) debuts.
1999 - March: ET-4A senior car debuts. Aggregate sales of Wagon R in Japan reach 1 million units.
1999 - May: Wagon R+ 1.0-litre passenger vehicle debuts.
1999 - June: Every+ 7-seater 1.3-litre passenger vehicle debuts.
1999 - December: Suzuki enters a business tie-up with Japanese automaker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
2000 - January: Production of Wagon R+ jointly developed by Suzuki and General Motors in Europe begins.
2000 - April: Production of Suzuki cars begins at General Motors Argentina.
2000 - September: Suzuki and General Motors Corp. agree to form new strategic alliance. General Motors Corp. changes its equity stake in Suzuki from 10% to 20%. Suzuki starts supplying a small car (the Chevrolet MW) to General Motors Corp. for the Japanese domestic market on an OEM basis.
2000 - October: Suzuki marks its 80th anniversary by establishing the Suzuki Education and Culture Foundation.
2000 - December: Wagon R Solio 1.0 and 1.3-litre passenger vehicle debuts. Grand Vitara XL-7, 7-seater sport utility vehicle with a 2.7-litre V6 engine debuts.
2001 - January: Liana passenger car debuts (launched overseas in March 2001). Use of lead is abolished in painting processes at Suzuki motorcycle and automobile plants.
2001 - March: Aggregate global sales of Jimny series reach 2 million units.
2001 - April: Suzuki reaches a basic agreement to supply small vehicles to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. on an OEM basis from 2002.
2001 - August: Aggregate production of Alto reaches 4 million units. Suzuki reaches a basic agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. on business tie-ups for motorcycles.
2001 - September: Suzuki Motor R&D Asia Co., Ltd. (a motorcycle R&D company) is established in Thailand.
2001 - October: Suzuki and General Motors Corp. agree to cooperate on fuel cell technologies.
2001 - November: Chevrolet Cruze passenger vehicle (jointly developed by Suzuki and General Motors) debuts.
2002 - January: Alto Lapin vehicle debuts. Aggregate global sales of Suzuki cars reach 30 million units.
2002 - July: Suzuki develops the first direct-injection turbo engine for vehicles.
2003 - January: Twin two-seater vehicle debuts. Suzuki and Italian automaker Fiat Auto agree on joint development of a sport utility vehicle. Production of New Ignis begins in Hungary.
2003 - September: New Wagon R wagon debuts.
2004 - January: Aggregate sales of Wagon R in Japan reach two million units. Aggregate sales of Suzuki vehicles in Japan reach 15 million units.
2004 June: Suzuki and General Motors Corp. agree to produce GM's global engines.
2004 - July: Production of APV all purpose vehicle begins.
2004 - September: Suzuki announces plans to establish a car engine manufacturer and second car production plant in India. New Alto debuts.
2004 - November: New Swift compact car debuts.
2005 - May: New Grand Vitara compact 4x4 vehicle debuts. Aggregate motorcycle production in Indonesia reaches 5 million.
2006 - January: New MR Wagon debuts.
2006 - February: Aggregate car production in Canada reaches 2 million units. Production of Suzuki motorcycles begins in Vietnam.
2006 - March: SX4 crossover sport utility vehicle (jointly developed by Suzuki and Fiat) debuts in Europe. General Motors Corp. changes its equity stake in Suzuki from 20% to 3%.
2006 - May: Aggregate sales of Wagon R in Japan reach 2.5 million units.
2006 - June: Suzuki and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. agree to expand their business collaboration.
2006 - July: SX4 crossover sport utility vehicle debuts.
2006 - August: Suzuki announces plans to build a new car plant in Sagara.
2006 - October: XL7 midsize crossover sport utility vehicle with a 3.6-litre V6 engine debuts in U.S.
2006 - November: New Cervo debuts.
2007 - July: SX4 Sedan compact car debuts.
2008 - January: Suzuki enters the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
2008 - June: Aggregate global sales of Swift reach 1 million units.
2008 - October: New Alto compact car for overseas market debuts.
2009 - April: Suzuki opens Suzuki Plaza heritage centre at Hamamatsu headquarters.
2009 May: Alto reaches 30th anniversary and 10 million units of aggregate worldwide sales.