Suzuki is a transportation manufacturer
in Japan known for their compact cars, 4x4's, motorcycles, ATVs,
engines, and wheelchairs. They are the fourth largest car company in
Japan and ninth in the world.
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| Michio Suzuki |
The company got it's start as Suzuki
Loom Works by Michio Suzuki. They built looms for Japan's huge silk
industry. In 1929, he invented a new weaving machine which was
exported around the world. Suzuki spent over thirty years focusing
solely on looms and had over 120 patents and rights. Even though he
was very successful, he realized he could grow the company if they
branched out elsewhere.
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| Suzuki Loom Works |
Customer demand at the time was for
cars. He started new designs in 1937 and two years later, he had
several prototypes. World War II put a hold on his plans though as
the government deemed vehicles that weren't for the military,
unnecessary. Suzuki went back to looms after the war. There had been
a huge boost in the cotton market, as the United States government
had approved cotton shipments to Japan. This did not last long
though, as that market declined in 1951.
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| A Suzuki Loom |
It was then he turned back to
transportation. Post war Japan had a large demand for cars at this
point. He designed a bicycle with a motor attached known as “Power
Free”. It could run solely on the engine if the rider didn't wish
to pedal. The Japanese government was so impressed, they gave him
money to research motorcycles.
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| 1954 Suzuki Colleda |
By 1954, Suzuki was producing 6,000
motorcycles a month and he officially changed the company's name to
Suzuki Motor Co. After months of success with the motorcycles, he
turned to cars again and came out with a new one in 1955. They were
immediately known for their innovation.
Suzuki would go on to become a
successful car company and introduce new models throughout the years.
Today, Volkswagen is their biggest shareholder.
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| 2014 Suzuki SX4 |
Sources: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki; News Motorcycle, http://news-motorcycle.com/articles/6/19.html; Japan Coolture, http://www.japancoolture.com/it/dai_telai_per_il_cotone_ai_telai_da_corsa_suzuki; Auto Centre, http://www.autocentre.ua/ac/auto/authority/sotkannyy-uspekh-15930.html; Car and Driver, http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/2014-suzuki-sx4-suzuki-still-produces-autos-just-not-for-us-2013-geneva-auto-show;
