History

Oct

Michio Suzuki founds Suzuki Loom Works in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture

Mar

Company is incorporated and capitalized at ¥500,000 as Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. with Michio Suzuki as president

Jun

Suzuki enters the motor-vehicle field with the Power Free 36cc, 2-cycle motorized bicycle

Mar

Diamond Free 60cc, 2-cycle motorized bicycle debuts and its monthly production exceeds 6,000 units

Jun

Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd

Mar

Colleda 125cc, 2-cycle motorcycle debuts

Oct

Suzulight 360cc, 2-cycle minivehicle debuts, helping to usher in Japan’s mini-vehicle age 58

Oct

Suzuki adopts the “S” mark as its corporate emblem

Jun

Suzuki wins the 50cc-class championship in the Isle of Man TT race

Aug

Colleda Sel Twin 125cc, 2-cycle, 2-cylinder motorcycle with electric start and Suzulight 360cc, 2-cycle mini commercial vehicle debut

Sep

Colleda Sel Twin 125cc, 2-cycle, 2-cylinder motorcycle with electric start and Suzulight 360cc, 2-cycle mini commercial vehicle debut

Nov

U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp. is established in Los Angeles as a direct sales subsidiary

Aug

Fronte 800 2-cycle subcompact passenger vehicle debuts

Jan

K50 50cc, 2-cycle motorcycle debuts

Mar

The first motorcycle plant outside Japan is established in Thailand

Apr

Fronte 360cc, 2-cycle mini-vehicle debuts

Mar

Carry Van 360cc, 2-cycle mini full-cab van debuts

Apr

Jimny 360cc, 2-cycle mini 4×4 vehicle (LJ series) debuts

Oct

Kosai Plant is built for automobiles in Kosai, Shizuoka, Japan

Nov

Fronte 71 360cc, 2-cycle mini-vehicle debuts

Sep

Fronte Coupe 360cc, 2-cycle mini-vehicle debuts
GT750 750cc, 2-cycle motorcycle debuts.

Mar

GT380 371cc, 2-cycle motorcycle debuts

Oct

Suzuki parts manufacturing company is established in Akita, Japan

May

Jitsujiro Suzuki is appointed as president and Shunzo Suzuki as chairman

Jun

Suzuki Canada Ltd. (a direct sales subsidiary) is established in Ontario, Canada

Apr

Suzuki enters the medical equipment field with the launch of the Motor Chair Z600 motorized wheelchair

Jun

P.T. Suzuki Indonesia Manufacturing (a joint venture for part production) is established in Jakarta, Indonesia

May

Suzuki begins its first overseas car production with assembly of the Jimny LJ50 4×4 car in Pakistan

Jun

Fronte 7S 450cc, 2-cycle mini-car debuts

Nov

GS motorcycle series (400cc, 500cc, 750cc, 4-cycle) debuts

Oct

- Jimny 8 (LJ80), 800cc, 4-cycle subcompact 4WD vehicle debuts
- Fronte 7S 550cc, 2-cycle mini-car debuts

Jun

Osamu Suzuki is appointed as president and Jitsujiro Suzuki as chairman

May

Alto 550cc, 2-cycle mini-vehicle debuts
Fronte 550cc, 2 & 4-cycle mini-vehicle debuts

Jan

GSX motorcycle series (250cc, 400cc, 750cc, 4-cycle) debut

Feb

Suzuki Australia Pty. Ltd. (a sales joint venture) is established in Sydney, Australia

Mar

Consolidated sales reach ¥500 billion

May

New Jimny 4x4 minicar debuts

Oct

GSX 1100S Katana 1100cc, 4-cycle motorcycle debuts in overseas markets

Feb

GSX750S motorcycle debuts

Jun

New Alto minivehicle debuts

Aug

- LT125 125cc, 4-cycle all-terrain vehicle debuts
- Jimny 1000 1.0-litre 4x4 vehicle debuts

Mar

RG250Γ 250cc, 2-cycle sportbike debuts

Oct

Cultus (Swift/Forsa/SA310) 1.0-litre passenger vehicle debuts

Mar

GSX-R 400cc, 4-cycle sportbike debuts

Apr

Suzuki starts exporting 1.0-litre cars to US automaker General Motors

Aug

Suzuki wins the driver championship for the 10th consecutive year at the World Motorcross Grand Prix 125

Sep

New Alto and New Fronte 550cc, 4-cycle mini-vehicles debut

Mar

GSX-R750 750cc, 4-cycle motorcycle debuts

May

Aggregate exports of Suzuki cars from Japan reach 2 million units

May

Vitara (Escudo) 1.6-litre, 4-cycle compact 4x4 vehicle debuts

Jul

Aggregate car production reaches 10 million units worldwide

Sep

Vitara compact 4x4 5-door debuts

Oct

Company changes its name to Suzuki Motor Corporation

Mar

Consolidated sales reach ¥1 trillion

Nov

Cappuccino mini two-seater convertible debuts

May

Jimny Sierra 1300 4x4 car debuts

Sep

Wagon R mini-vehicle debuts

Dec

Wagon R wins 1993–94 RJC New Car of the Year award

Apr

Aggregate sales of Suzuki cars in Japan reach 10 million units

Nov

New Alto mini-vehicle debuts

Apr

- Aggregate exports of Suzuki motorcycles from Japan reach 20 million units
- Baleno passenger vehicle debuts

Mar

Aggregate export units of automobiles from Japan reach 10 million units

Aug

Suzuki plants in Japan receive ISO9002 quality-assurance certification

Nov

New Grand Vitara compact 4x4 vehicle debuts

Jan

New Jimny compact 4x4 vehicle debuts

May

Suzuki and General Motors agree on joint development in Europe

Oct

- New mini-vehicles Alto, Wagon R+ and Jimny debut simultaneously
- Suzuki starts supplying motorcycle engine technology to Aprilia S.p.A. in Italy

Jan

- New Carry Van debuts
- GSX1300R Hayabusa 1300cc, 4-cycle motorcycle debuts

Aug

Aggregate motorcycle production reaches 40 million units worldwide

Sep

XL-7 7-seater sport utility vehicle with a 2.7-litre V6 engine debuts

Jan

Liana (Aerio) passenger car debuts

Feb

Wagon R ASV-2 becomes first mini-vehicle to be approved by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for studies on advanced vehicle safety

Oct

Suzuki and General Motors agree to cooperate on fuel cell technologies

Nov

- Chevrolet Cruze passenger vehicle jointly developed by Suzuki and General Motors
Liana (Aerio) Sedan passenger vehicle debuts

Jan

Aggregate global sales of Suzuki cars reach 30 million units

Jun

650 Burgman large scooter debuts

Jul

- Suzuki develops the first direct-injection turbo engine for mini-vehicles
Suzuki and Fiat agree on joint development of new sport utility vehicle

Oct

Suzuki receives ministerial approval to test fuel-cell car on public roads

Jan

Aggregate sales of Suzuki mini-vehicles in Japan reach 15 million units

Nov

New Swift compact car debuts

May

New Grand Vitara compact 4x4 vehicle debuts

Nov

Swift wins 2005–2006 Japan Car of the Year “Most Fun” award and 2006 RJC Car of the Year award

- SX4 crossover sport utility vehicle jointly developed by Suzuki and Fiat debuts
- Boulevard M100R debuts

Oct

XL7 midsize crossover sport utility vehicle with a 3.6-litre V6 engine debuts in U.S

Jul

SX4 Sedan compact car debuts

Jan

Suzuki enters the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

Jun

Aggregate global sales of Swift reach 1 million units

Jul

Aggregate global sales of Suzuki cars reach 40 million units.

Oct

Kizashi debut.

Dec

Alto debut.

Dec

Suzuki reaches an agreement with VW for a comprehensive partnership.

Apr

40th Anniversary of the Jimny 4x4 debut.

Apr

In the World Endurance Championship the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team won the championship on the GSX-R1000.

Jun

Production of new swift started at Magyar plan in Hungary.

Aug

New Swift compact car debuts in Japan.

Nov

Swift wins 2011 RJC car of the year award.

Apr

GSR750 debuts.

Jul

Construction of new MC plant in Philippines.

Jul

Announcement to consolidate MC business in Hamamatsu.

Nov

Suzuki commences arbitration proceedings for return of Suzuki shares held by VW.

Dec

New Swift Sport compact car debuts.

Mar

Suzuki Motor Thailand starts production and sales of the new Swift compact car.

Nov

Announcement regarding filing for Chapter 11 Reorganization by US subsidiary American Suzuki Motor Corporation, in connection with the winding down of its automobile marketing business.

Mar

Aggregate worldwide sales of automobiles reach 50 million units.

Nov

Decision to set up mega-solar power facility at Nakazato Industrial Park located in Makinohara, Shizuoka prefecture.

Jan

Construction of the Hamamatsu Plant (Miyakoda Industrial Park, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka) commences.

Feb

New Celerio compact car debuts in India.

Sep

Aggregate worldwide sales of Swift reaches four million units.

Jan

New crossover SX4 S-CROSS debuts.

Mar

New SUV VITARA rolls off the line in Hungary.

May

Suzuki holds opening ceremony of the new automobile plant in Indonesia.

Jun

Toshihiro Suzuki is appointed as President.

Aug

Suzuki acquires all the shares in Suzuki held by VW.

Feb

New mini crossover Ignis debuts.

Mar

New Baleno compact car debuts.

Apr

Worldwide sales of Swift reach five million units.

Jun

President and COO Toshihiro Suzuki is additionally appointed CEO.

Jul

Suzuki signs a corporate partnership agreement with HAKUTO, a Lunar exploration team.

Jan

All-new Swift compact car debuts.

Feb

Toyota and Suzuki conclude memorandum toward business partnership.

Jul

All-new Swift Sport compact car debuts.

Sep

Suzuki New Zealand take over as distributor of outboards for the New Zealand market

Feb

Update to Vitara SUV debuts

Feb

All-new Jimny compact 4x4 SUV debuts