Suzuki

Suzuki started its activities in Tokyo in 1909 as the producer of looms. After the launch at the stock market in 1920, the Japanese company committed itself to the automotive industry.

First engine production and first steps on the car market

From 1952 the company entered the market for motorized vehicles. In this context, some motor-driven bicycles were launched such as the Powerfree from 1952, the DiamondFree from 1953 and the MiniFree 1954. The first motorbike was introduced in 1954, that’s why the production of motorcycles was about to be the core business of Suzuki. The success in this field sealed the end of the loom production in the same year. The first motorcycle called Colleda could be technically improved and was offered with larger engines.

Re-opening for the automotive sector

Gradually, Suzuki was able to hold its own position on the vehicle market and renamed itself as Suzuki Motor Cooperation in 1954. Suzulight was the company's first own model, with which the company succeeded to enter the automotive industry permanently.

The two-cylinder car rolled off the assembly line in 1955. The model belonged to the Kei-Car class, so-called "light mobile", that means small cars, which were already decisive for the Japanese market. Today small cars make up one third of all cars in the country. The Suzuki Suzulight was manufactured until 1969 in the car body variant of small cars.

Big in business and great deals with the small ones

The Suzuki Fronte followed in 1962, which had been derived from the second Suzulight TL Van as notchback version. The model, equipped with a rear engine, was constantly developed further until 1976. Even if in the 1960s and 1970s, looking at Europe and the US in general larger cars were built, Suzuki continued to rely on the construction of mini and small cars. In 1961, the first minivan - the Carry, a box-type lorry, was produced, which is still produced in a modified form today. In this segment Suzuki is as a direct competitor of Honda.