Suzuki Motor Corporation is a legendary Japanese engineering company.

The Japanese company Suzuki Motor Corporation is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is famous for its excellent sake and does not go almost to the sea. Meanwhile, the name of the company is similar to the name of the Japanese bream, which is caught in the Sea of Japan, although it comes from the name of the founder.

Initially, Suzuki Motor specialized in the production of subcompact cars, which were quite powerful. In 2001, a third of the company's shares were purchased by the American company GM.

(*) Pictured is Suzuki Vitara 2019.

Founding history

Suzuki Motor began its history in 1920 when Macio Suzuki was organized. The type of activity was not related to the automotive industry, the company was engaged in the production of machines for the weaving industry. The idea of designing a car came in 1937, in 1939 the company offered consumers compact, inexpensive cars. However, the direction was recognized as insignificant for the activity, Macio Suzuki instructed to stop the production of a new type of product.

Car production was resumed only after the war. The first motorized velomobile Power Free was released. The design was very simple and inexpensive, so the product was in demand.

Another innovation was that the Two-sprocket mechanism allowed simultaneous pedaling and combination of effort with the engine. There was also a mode of movement only with the help of the power unit.

By 1954, 6 thousand motorcycles were already being produced in one month. In the same year, the name was changed to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd.

Subsequently, Suzuki, inspired by the success of the motorcycle series, created his first industrial version of the car. It came out in the mid 1950s and was called Suzulight. Despite the simplicity of the design, the vehicle was characterized by the use of unique innovations:

• front and all-wheel drive;
• independent suspension;
• rack and pinion type steering.

This set of technologies only after 40 years became the standard of automotive architecture.

New models of the 1970s with 2 and 3 cylinder engines

Some time later, Suzuki Motor Co. released Fronte-360. The vehicle was distinguished by the use of a 2-cylinder engine. The power was 30 hp, but this one was quite enough for a "subcompact". In the late 1970s, cars with large displacement 3-cylinder engines came out. A more advanced version appeared in the early 1980s. It was Jimny SJ410 that began to be successfully exported to many foreign countries.

Subsequently, the company offered consumers a 3-year warranty, and was the first manufacturer on the market to sell vehicles with a long-term warranty. This, of course, attracted consumers.

Power units for motor boats

In 1977 Suzuki Motor Co. opens a new direction - the manufacture of spare parts, components and engines of motor boats. The manufacturer offered a whole line of products - from 2 hp. up to 225 hp The company did not do without know-how, it was computer control of the engine, which consisted in determining the optimal mode.

Subsequently, the manufacturer offered consumers a 3-year warranty and was the first manufacturer on the market to sell vehicles with a long-term service. This, of course, attracted consumers and made Suzuki Motor famous in the motor watercraft market.

Microcars of the 1980s and hatchbacks of the 1990s

Given the consumer demand for compact cars around the world, in 1982, subcompact microcars of the Fronte, Alto, Cervo models were produced. They have two, three, five doors, are equipped with 3-cylinder engines with a power of up to 40 hp.

In 1983, Swift models for the European market are released with a hatchback body with an economical 50 hp engine. Cars begin to be sold in Hungary. In 1985, Japanese company vehicles became available to US residents. It was Suzuki of that period that gave Japanese cars the reputation of neat microcars that could be used as economical means of individual transportation.

In 1988, the modern Escudo model was released, in foreign markets it was sold as the Suzuki Vitara and was equipped with a 1.6 liter engine with 95 hp. In the US, it was offered as Geo Tracker. Suzuki Vitara is not just one of the company's most famous cars, but a whole line with a variety of solutions. For example, with 3- and 5-door bodies, with soft and hard tops, with an extended station wagon Vitara Long platform, which is equipped with any engine at the request of the buyer.

Modern Suzuki Motor Corporation

The current Suzuki Motor Corporation was formed from a renewal in the 1990s. The restructuring also affected the assortment.

Among the offerings in 1991 was the subcompact Suzuki Cappuccino, designed for two passengers. In 1993, the manufacturer developed the Wagon R, primarily for Eastern Europe. In 1994, the total number of cars produced by Suzuki Motor reached 10 million copies.

In 1995, Baleno came out on the Vitara chassis. For consumers, the new LOVE electric motorized bicycle series has been updated. For the United States, the Geo automobile brand was produced with the popular Metro model.

Subsequently, Suzuki Motor increases the production of subcompact passenger vehicles to 250,000 units per year. For foreign markets, Kei and Grand Vitara are produced. The motorcycle direction is increasing, the total number of produced motorcycles by 1999 reaches 40 million.

SUVs and prospects

In the same year, the company enters into a joint agreement with Fuji Heavy Industries to strengthen the SUV business. As a result, a number of new models are emerging. SUVs are produced in conjunction with General Motors, Chevrolet, Nissan and Kawasaki.

Now the company has opened its representative offices in 170 countries of the world. The structure employs 15 thousand highly qualified employees with engineering qualifications.

The lineup