Suzuki

In 1909 Michio Suzuki set up the Suzuki Loom Works in Hamamatsu, Japan. In 1952 Suzuki's first motor vehicle was the Power Free 36cc 2-stroke motorised bicycle, followed by the 60cc Diamond Free. In 1954 the firm became the Suzuki Motor Co Ltd and in 1955 the 125cc Colleda motorcycle was launched, followed by the 360cc Suzulight Kei-car. In 1961 the 360cc Suzulight Carry pickup entered production. In 1962 Suzuki won the 50cc class at the Isle of Man TT. In 1965 the Fronte 800 2-stroke minicar was launched, and in 1967 the 50cc K50 motorcycle appeared. 1970 saw the first Jimny 360cc 4x4 vehicle. The 360cc Fronte Coupe appeared in 1971, along with the GT motorcycle series. In 1976 the Fronte grew to 450cc, and the GS motorbike range began. The Jimny and Fronte gained larger engines, as Japanese regulations for Kei-cars gradually relaxed. 1980 saw the launch of the GSX motorcycle series, with the 50cc Gemma scooter in 1981. Suzuki linked with GM and with Isuzu. 1982 saw the launch of the 50cc Love scooter and the 125cc LT125 ATV. In 1983 the 50cc Ran scooter, 550cc Mighty Boy mini commercial vehicle, 250cc RG250 sportbike and the 1000cc Cultus-Swift-Forsa-SA310 car were all launched. In 1987 the 50cc Address scooter and a new 550cc Cervo appeared. The 1.6 litre Escudo-Vitara-Sidekick 4x4 was launched in 1988, and the Cappucino appeared in 1991. In 1993 the revolutionary Wagon R was launched. In 1994 Suzuki and Isuzu parted company. In 1995 the Cultus Crescent-Baleno was launched. 1996 saw the first 50cc Let's scooter, the Love electric-assisted bike and the Wagon R Wide. The Escudo-Grand Vitara was launched in the same year. The Jimny Wide followed in 1998, along with the 250cc Skywave scooter, and GM took a bigger stake in Suzuki. In 1999 the GSX 1300R Hayabusa motorbike was first seen. New models include the Grand Escudo-Grand Vitara XL-7 in 2000, the Chevrolet Cruze, Aerio-Liana and MR Wagon (2001), Alto Lapin car, Skywave 650-Burgman scooter (2002), Twin two-seater, Choinori scooter (2003), New Swift car (2004), XL7 suv (2006),SX4 car (2007), Palette, Splash and Wagon R Stingray (2008), Kizashi car and Gladius 400 ABS sportbike (2009). In 2009 Suzuki went into partnership with VW, the link being terminated in 2015.