Osamu Suzuki, Who Led Suzuki Motor for 43 Years and Expanded into India, Dies at 94

Dec 27, 2024, 07:31 AM

Osamu Suzuki, the former president and chairman of Suzuki Motor Corp., passed away on December 25 at the age of 94 due to malignant lymphoma. Suzuki, who led the company for over 43 years, was instrumental in expanding Suzuki's global presence, particularly in India where the company's subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki, became the market leader. He joined Suzuki in 1958 in Hamamatsu, Japan, and became president in 1978, launching successful models like the Alto and Wagon R. Suzuki also formed strategic alliances with General Motors and Volkswagen, though these partnerships eventually dissolved. His leadership saw the company's annual sales grow from 300 billion yen to over 3 trillion yen. Suzuki retired as chairman in June 2021.