The company was originally founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki as the Suzuki Loom Company that manufactured weaving looms for Japan’s silk industry. For the first 30 years of the company’s existence, the manufacturing was focused on the development of these looms and their distribution worldwide. Michio Suzuki also filed as many as 120 patents of different products during his time with the company. The company’s first motor vehicle was manufactured and distributed to the public in 1955. It was called the ‘Suzulight’ and was a lightweight car as evidenced by its name.
Before the company began manufacturing motor vehicles they began manufacturing motorcycles. Their first motorcycle came off the assembly line in 1952 and was more or less a motorized bicycle. Their motorcycles became more popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Aside from manufacturing motorcycles, Suzuki Motor Corporation also races their bikes. The company won the 2000 MotoGP title and since 2006 the company has been sponsored by Rizla and has been known as the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team.
The company as a vehicle manufacturer took off after that. They then began manufacturing trucks, other compact cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and much more. Suzuki has also manufactured vehicles for other major motor vehicle manufacturing companies. Those companies are General Motors, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan and Maruti Suzuki. Aside from the motor vehicles, Suzuki has had major success in the production of ATVs and motorcycles.
Suzuki’s ATVs are as follows:
Utility Sport
Suzuki KingQuad 700
Suzuki TwinPeaks 700
Suzuki Vinson 500
Suzuki Eiger 400
Suzuki Ozark 250
Sport
Suzuki LT 230
Suzuki LT 250
Suzuki LT-Z250
Suzuki LT-Z400
Suzuki LT-R450 (race ready)
Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak version (rally/road)
Suzuki Cultus Pikes Peak version (rally/road)
The Suzuki Motor Corporation also fields a Suzuki World Rally Team. The team is backed by the factory and competes in motor vehicle races across the world. It is fairly brand new. It debuted in 2007 as a competitor in the Rallye de France. The team has competed in only a few races in 2007 and 2008 and will add a couple more races to its docket in 2009.
The Suzuki Motor Corporation has been producing and distributing quality motor vehicles, motorcycles, outboard engines, ATVs and light trucks since the early 1900s and continue to climb the ladder of most productive automotive manufacturing companies in the world today.