Suzuki Motto Corporation, Japan’s fourth-largest automaker, is turning 100 this year. From beginnings as a small weaving loom manufacturing company in the Enshu district in Japan, its founder, Michio Suzuki, got the idea of transitioning to making motorized bicycles one day as he was pedaling to work against a strong headwind. The Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company came into being after reorganization and incorporation in 1920, with Michio Suzuki as its head.
Mr. Suzuki was driven by a philosophy of focusing on customer needs, along with the value of hard work. In 1954, these guiding principles led them to create a 90cc motorized bicycle that was extremely easy for anyone to just get on and ride. The Suzuki Colleda was the first in what is not a hundred years of technological innovation and engineering greatness. In 1955, Suzuki debuted the first Japanese-made car, the Suzulight–great grandfather to the Suzuki automobiles we see today.
Their technical abilities extended beyond the road, and made its way into the water in 1965, when the D55, coined as the “ultimate four-stroke outboard motor” was launched by the company. The brand’s global reputation soared even further as the engine became known for better acceleration, better fuel efficiency, and better value.
In the Philippines, Suzuki is on its 35th year, with Suzuki Philippines being the only local subsidiary carrying Suzuki motorcycles, automobiles, and outboard motor products in the whole of Asia. With 68 dealership groups and a network of 3079 shops, Suzuki Motorcycle has successfully dominated the underbone market with the Smash, touted as the number one selling Underbone in the Leisure category and the Raider R150 acknowledged as the “Underbone King” for being the highest selling model in the Underbone Sport category. Both models have sold more than double their competitors over the years.
Suzuki has a long, storied history that has perhaps grown beyond even Michio Suzuki’s dreams, pedaling his bike along the windy Japanese coast all those years ago. The world is a better place for their products, and we can’t wait to see what the next hundred years will bring.