Suzuki: Difference between revisions

* 1980: Suzuki Australia Pty. Ltd. established in [[Sydney]], Australia.<ref name="AutoWeb">{{cite news|title=Suzuki's New Australian Home|url=http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_50364/title_Suzukis-New-Australian-Home/newsarticle.html|accessdate=2 September 2013|newspaper=AutoWeb News|date=1 March 1998|quote=Marking a new beginning for the giant Japanese car, motorcycle and marine manufacturer in Australia, the new purpose-built complex will be in Melbourne rather than Sydney, the company's home for 18 years.}}</ref>

** Suzuki enters general-purpose engine field by marketing three electric power [[Electrical generator|generator]] models.<ref name="1980-">{{cite web|title=History 1980–|url=http://www.globalsuzuki.com/corporate/history/1980.html|work=Global Suzuki|publisher=Suzuki Motor Corporation|accessdate=18 August 2013}}</ref>

* 1981: Consolidated (i.e., including [[subsidiaries]]) sales for the [[fiscal year]] reach ¥500 billion.<ref name="1980-" />

** [[General Motors]] and [[Isuzu Motors]] announce cooperation with Suzuki Motor Company in the production and marketing of new "mini-cars". GM purchases a 5.3% stake in Suzuki.<ref>{{cite news|title=G.M., SUZUKI AND ISUZU AGREE TO 'MINI-CAR' DEAL|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/13/business/gm-suzuki-and-isuzu-agree-to-mini-car-deal.html|accessdate=2 September 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=13 August 1981|quote=The companies hope to gain an edge in the increasingly competive &#91;sic&#93; market for small, fuel-efficient cars with an engine displacement of 1,000 cubic centimeters and under. The agreement provides for each of the three companies to acquire shares in the other companies and to offer mutual technological and marketing assistance.}}</ref><ref name="Neff">{{cite web|last=Neff|first=John|title=GM selling remaining Suzuki stake for $230M|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/gm-selling-remaining-suzuki-stake-for-230m/|work=Autoblog|publisher=AOL Inc.|accessdate=2 September 2013|date=17 November 2008|quote=GM has held an equity stake in Suzuki since 1981, when it purchased approximately 5.3 percent of the Suzuki shares outstanding. GM's stake was diluted to 3.5 percent in subsequent years, but in 1998 GM increased its holding in Suzuki to 10 percent, and to slightly over 20 percent in 2001. In 2006, GM sold a 17.4 percent stake in Suzuki.}}</ref>

* 2009: 100th anniversary of the Suzuki brand name.<ref name="English" />

** Suzuki markets its first production pickup truck called the Equator.<ref name="Mateja" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Gunn|first=Malcolm|title=2009 Suzuki Equator|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/oct/17/2009-suzuki-equator/|accessdate=2 October 2013|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|date=17 October 2008|quote=The Nissan Frontier is ideally suited as the basis for the Equator, which is scheduled to arrive later this year. It's compact dimensions (slightly larger than a Ford Ranger and just a touch smaller than the mid-size Toyota Tacoma) neatly fits Suzuki's small-car-focused lineup, yet its solid body-on-frame construction and impressive power from an available V6 give it tremendous versatility.}}</ref>

** November: Suzuki breaks ground on a new 650,000 m². factory in Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in [[Rayong Province]], Thailand, the 20 billion yen investment for eco-car production to start in March 2012.<ref name="Corp2009">{{cite web|title=History 2009|url=http://www.globalsuzuki.com/corporate/history/2009.html|work=Global Suzuki|publisher=Suzuki Motor Corporation|accessdate=18 August 2013}}</ref>

 

* 2012: [[aggregate data|Aggregate]] domestic sales in India by Maruti Suzuki reaches 10 million units. Aggregate domestic sales of minivehicles in Japan reaches 20 million units.<ref name="Corp2012">{{cite web|title=History 2012|url=http://www.globalsuzuki.com/corporate/history/2012.html|work=Global Suzuki|publisher=Suzuki Motor Corporation|accessdate=18 August 2013}}</ref>

** January: Suzuki announces plans to build a new engine factory as the third factory in Indonesia for the fast-growing [[Southeast Asia]]n market. Suzuki spent ¥10 billion ($130 million) for a 1.3 million square-metre site in an industrial park outside Jakarta, and the plant may cost ¥30 billion to build.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suzuki To Increase Presence in Indonesia|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/01/04/suzuki-to-increase-presence-in-indonesia/|accessdate=3 October 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=4 January 2012|quote=For Suzuki, the new Indonesia plant is part of a campaign to expand rapidly in Asian markets outside Japan, and to solidify its lead in India. While the company remains committed to its home market, sluggish demand and intense competition there have led it—and most other Japanese auto makers—to seek growth abroad. The yen's rise to record highs against the dollar has made exports from Japan less competitive, so the makers are ramping up production elsewhere.}}</ref>

** March: Suzuki Motor Thailand starts production and sales of the new Swift compact car.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suzuki launches Thailand-made eco car|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Suzuki-launches-Thailand-made-eco-car-30178458.html|work=The Nation|publisher=www.nationmultimedia.com Thailand|accessdate=3 October 2013|author=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|date=21 March 2012|quote=The launch of the model, designed to run more than 20 kilometres per litre of fuel, followed a similar launch by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand of its new Mirage model on Tuesday. Five Japanese automobile manufacturers won tax privileges to design and produce compact, fuel-efficient passenger cars for the domestic and export market.}}</ref>

** November: American Suzuki Motor Corp. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Owing to its focus on small cars, a strong yen and stringent US safety regulations which have hurt growth, Suzuki Motors announces it will discontinue building autos for the US market and focus instead on motorcycles, ATVs and marine equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20216105 |title=Suzuki Motors to end US car sales amid growing struggle |publisher=BBC |date=6 November 2012 |accessdate=17 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hirsch|first=Jerry|title=American Suzuki to file for bankruptcy, end U.S. auto sales|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/05/business/la-fi-mo-autos-suzuki-bankruptcy-20121105|accessdate=2 October 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=5 November 2012|quote=Suzuki said that its 'automotive division was facing a number of serious challenges,' including the low sales volume, a dearth of models, the unfavorable exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, the cost of the maintaining a dealership network and the regulatory environment for the automotive industry in the U.S.}}</ref> U.S. sales had peaked in 2007 but had dropped to a quarter of that by 2011.<ref name="Hyde">{{cite web|last=Hyde|first=Justin|title=Suzuki leaves U.S. car business to focus on small vehicles elsewhere|url=http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/suzuki-leaves-u-car-business-focus-small-vehicles-020654243.html|work=Motoramic|publisher=Yahoo! Inc.|accessdate=9 September 2013|date=5 November 2012|quote=And after nearly 30 years on these shores, the company had failed to craft much of an identity among American consumers. In China, Malaysia and elsewhere, Suzukis are seen as cheap yet stylish transportation, an image that it could never build here. Suzuki's models were never top of their class in any particular measure; the 16-year battle with Consumer Reports over its pillory of the 1988 Suzuki Samurai didn't help. Among motorcycle enthusiasts, the Suzuki Hayabusa remains legend as the world's fastest production bike, but Suzuki never found a way to translate the enthusiasm for its two-wheeled products to those with four.}}</ref><ref name="CandD">{{cite web | url = http://blog.caranddriver.com/suzuki-ends-u-s-car-sales-why-it-had-to-do-it/ | title = Suzuki Ends U.S. Car Sales: Why It Had to Do It (And Other Brands That Could Disappear) | last = Berkowitz | first = Justin | date = 8 November 2012 | work = Car and Driver }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Suzuki gives up on U.S. auto market|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/07/business/la-fi-american-suzuki-bankruptcy-20121107|accessdate=2 October 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=7 November 2012|author=W.J. Hennigan|quote=Unlike larger carmakers, the Japanese automaker failed to rebound from the recession as North American car sales plummeted 72% to 30,000 for the fiscal year that ended March 30 from a peak of 107,000 in fiscal year 2008.}}</ref>

On 14 February 2011, Maruti announced that it had achieved one million total accumulated production volume of the Alto. The Alto has reached the million units mark in just seven years and five months since its launch in September 2000. The last half of the million was achieved in 25 months. The Alto became the third car by Maruti Suzuki stable to cross the million units mark, following the Maruti 800 and the Omni.

 

Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Vitara Brezza in the Indian Auto Expo 2016 as a contender in the compact SUV segment.

 

Suzuki started manufacturing motorcycles in 1952, the first models being motorized bicycles.<ref name="1950s" /> From 1955 to 1976<ref name="1970s" /> the company manufactured motorcycles with [[two-stroke]] engines only, the biggest two-stroke model being the water-cooled triple-cylinder [[Suzuki GT 750|GT750]].

 

 

Suzuki hired Degner, and he won the [[50 cc|50 cc class]] [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] [[road racing]] [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|World Championship]] for them in the [[1962 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1962 season]]. Suzuki became the first Japanese manufacturer to win a [[List of motocross World Championship results|motocross world championship]] when [[Joel Robert]] won the 1970 250&nbsp;cc title. In the 1970s, Suzuki established themselves in the motorcycle racing world with [[Barry Sheene]] and [[Roger De Coster]] winning world championships in the premier 500&nbsp;cc division in [[road racing]] and [[motocross]] respectively.

* [[Suzuki SV650|SV650]] was introduced in 1999 as a budget entry in the naked bike market,<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 Suzuki SV650|url=http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/1999-suzuki-sv650-16317.html|work=Motorcycle Online|publisher=VerticalScope Inc|accessdate=23 October 2013|date=19 March 1999|quote=Although it's not incorrect to describe the SV650 as a naked, downscale TL1000S, it's not entirely accurate either. True, the 645cc liquid-cooled, 90° V-twin engine borrows more than a few bits and pieces from Suzuki's high-performance TL bikes such as lower exhaust cams and triangularly arranged crank and transmission shafts to reduce engine height and length, a rear cylinder head pipe that routes through the swingarm, an internal water pump, and all-electric instrument gauges. But the SV650 also receives a few new tweaks of its own, such as an oil guide that sprays oil directly on the gear faces. The SV650 also receives two 39mm Mikuni downdraft carburetors instead of fuel-injection, but considering the glitches we've experienced in the past with Suzuki's EFI, carburetion isn't that bad of an idea.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=May|first=Keith|title=Frugal Fuelers: Suzuki SV650 – First Look|url=http://www.cycleworld.com/2008/07/16/frugal-fuelers-suzuki-sv650-first-look/|accessdate=23 October 2013|newspaper=Cycle World|date=16 July 2008|quote=This then-new standard from Suzuki had apparently charmed the riding pants off everyone at the office. 'So easy to flick back and forth that turning around and re-running ess-turns isn't just an option, it's a necessity,' Cycle World's May, 1999, issue declared. And shockingly, 'Better performance numbers than Ducati's Monster 900.' Other turn-ons included the short wheelbase, low center of gravity, relaxed riding position, competent suspension, decent brakes, smooth gearbox, narrow waist, wide handlebars and cozy passenger perch. The perfect companion for novice and hooligans alike. And stunning good looks to boot.}}</ref> and since 2001, offered both naked and fully faired.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cathcart|first=Alan|title=Suzuki SV650S And Kawasaki ZX-6R – Tweaks 2001!|url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_0012_suzuki_sv650s_kawasaki_zx_6r/|work=Motorcyclist Magazine|publisher=Source Interlink Media|accessdate=23 October 2013|date=1 December 2000|quote=Good news, bad news from Suzuki. As you'll see elsewhere in this issue, we are indeed getting the light, hot GSX-R600 and 1000 (that would be the really good news) but, contrary to some rumors, we are not going to see a TL1000-engined naked model for 2001. (Oh, and we wanted it so badly.) Still, there's plenty of good reason for V-twin fans to cheer, as the SV650S, a half-faired iteration of our favorite middleweight boomer, will finally come Stateside. Sporting a racier riding stance thanks to clip-ons replacing the naked SV's tubular affair, taller gearing and slightly revised steering geometry, the SV-S we get will be identical to the bike Europeans and Canadians have enjoyed for two years. Cool, eh? The naked SV650 returns unchanged, as do the Bandit 600, Katanas 600 and 750 and TL1000s S and R.}}</ref> In 2009 the [[naked bike]] version was redesigned and renamed the [[Suzuki SFV650 Gladius|Gladius]] in keeping with the [[Gladius|sword]] motif Suzuki established with the ''Katana.''<ref>{{cite news|last=Stermer|first=Bill|title=2009 Suzuki Gladius Road Test|url=http://www.ridermagazine.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2009-suzuki-gladius-650-road-test.htm/|accessdate=23 October 2013|newspaper=Rider Magazine|date=June 2009|quote=In researching the market, Suzuki determined that with the influx of young people the average age of motorcycle buyers was no longer increasing. They further determined that the younger buyers entering the market desired practical and economical transportation, and thus the Gladius was born. The intent was for it to be more versatile than the Katanas by making it a naked bike with an upright seating position. It was originally targeted for the European market so they wanted something that was hip, urban and modern. Suzuki even sent Japanese designers to Europe for several months to study its fashion, architecture and motorcycle culture. The result is the flowing shapes and forward thrust, what Suzuki calls 'style meets technology.'}}</ref> The Gladius motorcycle won a [[Good Design Award (Japan)|Good Design Award]] (aka ''G Mark'') from the [[Japan Institute of Design Promotion]].<ref>{{cite web|title=MOTORCYCLE [GLADIUS]|url=http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/35123|work=Good Design Award|publisher=Japan Institute of Design Promotion|year=2009|accessdate=23 October 2013}}</ref>

* [[Suzuki GSX-R1000|GSX-R1000]] – This top-of-the-line [[superbike]] debuted in 2000,<ref>{{cite news|last=Ash|first=Kevin|title=Open the throttle for a big thrill|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/4747856/Open-the-throttle-for-a-big-thrill.html|accessdate=24 October 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=19 December 2000|quote=BUY a Suzuki GSX-R1000 today! Right now! It doesn't matter if you're normally into tourers, trail bikes or whatever. If there is any soul in you, any quest whatsoever to experience truly mind-expanding excitement, then at some point in your life you really must own – or at the very least ride – this latest flagship supersports machine from the 500cc grand prix world championship-winning manufacturer. This bike not only offers more than any road-going sports bike before it in terms of power, handling and braking, it also plugs the rider into its dynamics with such clarity and obedient responsiveness that it feels as if your very nerve endings have been spliced into the wiring loom.}}</ref> and remains the largest model of the GSX-R series.<ref name="GSX-R1,000,000" /><ref name="GSX-R50th" />

** [[Suzuki Choinori|Choinori]] was a lightweight, inexpensive, 50cc scooter and the antithesis of the [[Suzuki Burgman|Skywave 650]], but they were introduced at the same time in an effort to increase domestic sales in response to shrinking motorcycle exports.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suzuki set to increase output|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2682701.stm|accessdate=23 October 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=22 January 2003|quote=Motorcycle production is set to be boosted by strong demand from China, and the release of a new 50cc scooter called 'Choinori'.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report|url=http://www.globalsuzuki.com/ir/library/annualreport/pdf/2003/2003-1.pdf|publisher=Suzuki Motor Corporation|accessdate=23 October 2013|page=1|format=PDF|year=2003|quote=In the overseas markets, motorcycle exports to North America and other markets increased, but exports to Central and South America, Europe and other markets dropped. As a result, motorcycle exports as a whole saw a decrease from the previous year. On the other hand, due to increases in North America, Europe and other markets, automobile exports surpassed last year's level. Under such circumstances, Suzuki made efforts to increase sales in the domestic motorcycle market by enhancing our product lineup through the introduction of models such as the Choinori and the SKYWAVE 650. Literally meaning 'short time riding', the Choinori is a functional domestically produced 50cc scooter available at a highly competitive price of 59,800 yen while the SKYWAVE 650 is a large-size scooter featuring the world's first electronically controlled CVT system.}}</ref> The 2002 Choinori is one of the [[:ja:自動車技術会|JSAE]] ''240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology''.<ref name="Choinori" /> The Choinori was awarded the ''G Mark'' [[Good Design Award (Japan)|Good Design Award]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=scooter [choinori]|url=http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/28505|work=Good Design Award|publisher=Japan Institute of Design Promotion|year=2003|accessdate=4 November 2013}}</ref>

* [[Suzuki GSX 650 F|GSX-650F]] – introduced in 2008, this new sport touring model fills the void of the retired [[Suzuki Katana|Katana]]. The 2009 model has [[Anti-lock braking system|ABS]] standard.

* [[Suzuki V-Strom 650|DL-650 V-Strom]] – a [[dual-sport motorcycle]]