Suzuki has sold more than 40 million cars since 1955, the milestone achieved just before the fast-growing brand celebrates its 100th birthday in October 2009.
More than half this cumulative total was sold in countries outside the company’s home market in Japan, reflecting the international appeal of the product.
Michio Suzuki formed the Suzuki Loom Company in 1909, and the manufacturer became a major builder of motorcycles before diversifying into automobiles 54 years ago.
Suzuki also began producing marine outboard motors in 1965, then pre-fabricated houses in 1974, with general purpose engines in 1980 and All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in 1982.
Today Suzuki cars are sold in 193 countries, including New Zealand where it is one of the fastest growing brands.
Models such as the Vitara 4x4, which is 20 years old, put the Suzuki brand on the map; but it’s the popular Swift that is responsible for its local success.
In July Suzuki was second only to Toyota and ahead of Honda in the Japanese domestic market.
Suzuki sold its ten millionth vehicle in 1989 and by 1990 annual global production was exceeding one million cars. The two million annual production barrier was broken in 2005.
Last year Suzuki sold 2.3 million cars globally, including 315,000 units in Europe even though general trading conditions were difficult.
Three production bases were established in Japan but the company now builds cars in 15 plants in 14 other countries, including Indonesia, Hungary and India. In India, where Suzuki captures more than half the total new vehicle market, with sales currently exceeding seven and a half million units.
Suzuki has defied subdued market trends in some territories.
In South Africa, for example, Suzuki car sales were up 35 per cent in 2008, despite a 29 per cent drop in the total new vehicle market.
World motorcycle sales reached 3.4 million units last year, an impressive result in tough times.
