Jobaaj Stories
Osamu Suzuki, the former President, Chairman, and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 94. The company shared the news on Friday, saying he had died from malignant lymphoma.
Suzuki led the company for over 40 years, turning it into one of the most successful car makers in the world, especially in India. Under his leadership, Suzuki's sales grew dramatically from about 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion) in 1978 to more than 3 trillion yen in 2006.
Focus on Small Cars for Growing Markets
Suzuki focused on making small, affordable cars for markets like India, Southeast Asia, and Hungary. This strategy helped Suzuki become the most popular car brand in India. Maruti Suzuki, the company’s Indian subsidiary, held 41.7% of the country’s car market in 2023, much more than its closest competitor, Hyundai.
Early Life and Leadership
Born on January 30, 1930, in Gifu, Japan, Suzuki joined Suzuki Motor in 1958 after marrying the daughter of the company’s then-president. He became the company’s president in 1978 and worked hard to change Suzuki from a small car company into one of Japan’s biggest car makers.
Smart Business Moves
Instead of focusing on large car markets like the U.S. and China, Suzuki decided to make small cars for places where people needed affordable transportation. This worked well in countries like India, where smaller cars are more popular.
Suzuki’s company also partnered with Volkswagen in 2009 to improve its environmental technologies, but the two companies parted ways in 2015. In 2019, Suzuki partnered with Toyota to develop new technologies for self-driving cars.
Lasting Legacy
Suzuki stepped down as president in 2015, giving the role to his son, Toshihiro Suzuki, but he stayed as chairman until 2021. His leadership helped shape Suzuki into the powerful car company it is today.
Osamu Suzuki’s dedication and vision have left a lasting impact on the global car industry, especially in emerging markets.
