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1955 Motorcycle ‘Colleda’ (2-stroke,
125cc) is launched. Mini passenger car ‘Suzulight’ (2-stroke,
360cc) is launched, spurring Japan’s minicar age.
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1958 ”S” mark is adopted as
company emblem.
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1960 Suzuki competes in the
Isle of Man TT 125cc class and wins a bronze replica.
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1961 Suzuki Loom Works K.K.
is established by separation of the loom machine division
from the motor works. Production of mini truck ‘Carry’ (2-stroke,
360cc) begins.
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1962 Suzuki wins the 50cc class championship
in the Isle of Man TT. Suzuki wins the manufacturers’ title in the
GP World Championship 50cc class.
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1963 U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp. is established
in Los Angeles.
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1965 Business is expanded into outboard
motors. Subcompact passenger car ‘Fronte 800’ is launched.
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1967 Thai Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. is
established as a local assembly plant.
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1970 Mini 4x4 vehicle ‘LJ10’ (2-stroke,
360cc) is launched.
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1971 Mini passenger car ‘Front Coupe’
(2-stroke, 360cc) is launched. ‘GT750’ motorcycle (2-stroke, 750cc)
is launched.
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1973 Suzuki Canada Ltd. is established
in Ontario, Canada.
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1974 P.T. Suzuki Indonesia Manufacturing,
a joint venture for parts manufacturing, is established in Jakarta,
Indonesia. Business is expanded into medical equipment and the housing
industry.
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1975 Suzuki captures the first of 10
consecutive World Motocross Championships in the 125cc class.
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1976 Suzuki dominates in the 500cc World
GP Championship, capturing the manufacturers’ title and the top
6 (and 11 of the first 12) places in the drivers’ ranking.
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1977 Subcompact 4x4 vehicle ‘LJ80’ is
launched.
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1978 Osamu Suzuki becomes President.
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1979 Mini vehicle ‘Alto’ (2-stroke,
550cc) is launched.
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1980 Suzuki Australia Pty. Ltd. is established
in Sydney, Australia. Business is expanded into general-purpose
engines. Three types of generator are launched.
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1981 Agreements on business tie-ups
are made with General Motors Corporation (U.S.) and Isuzu Motors,
Ltd. (Japan).
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1982 ‘GSX750S’ motorcycle (4-stroke,
750cc) is launched. ‘LT125’ all-terrain vehicle (4-stroke, 125cc)
is launched. 4WD vehicle ‘SJ410’ series (4-stroke, 1,000cc) is launched.
Suzuki wins its seventh consecutive 500cc World GP manufacturers’
title. Production of Suzuki automobiles starts at PAK Suzuki Motor
Co., Ltd., Pakistan. Agreement is formally signed with Maruti Udyog
Ltd., India, for production and distribution of Suzuki automobiles.
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1983 1.0 litre passenger car ‘Swift’
is launched. ‘RG250 Gamma’ sportsbike (2-stroke, 250cc) is launched.
Production of Suzuki automobiles starts at Maruti Udyog Ltd., India.
Suzuki wins World Motorcycle endurance series.
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1984 Suzuki France S.A., a direct sales
subsidiary, is established. Technological assistance agreement on
automobile production is signed with China National Aerotechnology
Import & Export Corporation. Suzuki captures 10th consecutive World
Motocross Championship in 125cc class. ‘SJ413’ with 1.3-litre engine
is launched. Suzuki Motor GmbH Deutschland is established in Heppenheim,
former West Germany.
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1985 ‘GSX-R 750’ sportsbike (4-stroke,
750cc) air-cooled SACS engine is launched. GSX-R makes debut in
Le Mans 24-hour endurance race and achieves 1–2 finish. ”Samurai”
is launched. Production of ‘SJ410’ starts at Land Rover Santana
S.A., Spain. Production of scooters starts at Avello S.A., Spain.
Technological tie-up agreement is signed for motorcycle production
in China.
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1986 Suzuki of America Automotive Corp.
is established as automobile distributor. Agreement is reached with
General Motors Corporation of Canada to establish a joint-venture
company.
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1987 Production of ‘Swift’ starts at
Fabrica Colombiana de Automotores S.A. Aggregate
automobile exports reach 2 million units.
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1988 Subcompact 4WD vehicle ‘Vitara’
(4-stroke, 1,600cc) is launched.
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1989 Automobile production starts at
CAMI Automotive Inc., Canada. Aggregate automobile production reaches
10 million units. Suzuki enters the twin-engine Swift in the Pikes
Peak International Hill Climb (Unlimited Division) for the first
time.
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1990 Company name is changed to Suzuki
Motor Corporation.
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1991 Agreement is formally signed for
production of automobiles in Hungary. Automobile production in South
Korea starts through technology tie-up with Daewoo Shipbuilding
& Heavy Machinery Ltd. 2-seater convertible ‘Cappuccino’ (4-stroke,
660cc) is launched.
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1992 Twin-engine Swift wins Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb (Unlimited Division).
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1993 Production and distribution of
passenger cars start at Suzuki Egypt S.A.E. Joint-venture agreement
is formally signed for production of passenger cars and motorcycles
in China. Opening ceremony for new automobile plant is held at Magyar
Suzuki Corp. in Esztergom, Hungary. Mini passenger car ‘Wagon R’
is launched in Japan. Wins 500cc World GP. Twin-engine Swift wins
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (Unlimited Division) for the
second consecutive year.
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1994 Aggregate domestic automobile sales
reach 10 million units. Suzuki GB PLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary,
takes over distribution of all Suzuki products in the United Kingdom.
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1995 Aggregate motorcycle exports reach
20 million units. New passenger car ‘Baleno’ is launched. Electric
power-assisted bicycle ‘Love’ is launched. Twin-engine Vitara is
the overall champion in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Swift GT-i wins Formula 2 Driver’s Cup in Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
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1996 Production of automobiles and motorcycles
starts in Vietnam. Swift GT-i wins Asia Pacific Rally Championship
(second consecutive title for Suzuki).
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1997 1,000cc wagon ‘Wagon R+’ is launched.
Aggregate automobile sales in overseas markets reach 10 million
units. Baleno Wagon Kit Car wins Formula 2 Driver’s Cup in Asia-Pacific
Rally Championship (third consecutive title for Suzuki).
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1998 ‘Vitara’ undergoes first full model
change and is re-introduced under the name ‘Grand Vitara’. New compact
4x4 ‘Jimny’ is launched. Agreement is reached with General Motors
Corporation for strengthening the business tie-up and forming a
strategic alliance. Motorcycle engine technology is supplied to
Aprilia S.p.A. in Italy.Baleno Wagon Kit Car wins Formula 2 Driver’s
Cup in Asia Pacific Rally Championship (fourth consecutive title
for Suzuki).
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2000 ‘Wagon R+ undergoes first full
model change. The New Multi Compact ‘Ignis’ is launched. Suzuki
automobile production starts at General Motors de Argentina S.A.
Masao Toda becomes president. Osamu Suzuki becomes chairman. Suzuki
and General Motors Corporation announce new strategic alliance.
‘Grand Vitara XL-7’ is launched. Wins 500cc World GP.
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2001 New passenger car ‘Liana’ is launched.
Use of lead is abolished in painting processes at motorcycle and
automobile plants. Aggregate worldwide sales of ‘Jimny’ series reach
2 million units.Aggregate production of Alto (since 1979) reaches
4 million units at the Kosai Plant in Japan.
Basic agreement is reached with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. on
OEM supply of mini passenger cars. Aggregate domestic sales of ‘Wagon
R’ reach 1.5 million units. Ignis Super 1600 wins Formula 2 and
Super 1600 titles in Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
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2002 Ignis Super 1600 makes debut in
FIA Junior World Rally Championship. Worldwide cumulative automobile
sales figure exceeded 30 million. Suzuki gained majority stake in
Maruti Udoyog Limited, India. Suzuki made equity participation in
GMDAT. New company named ”SWT” for promoting automobile motorsport
activities was started.
