TOKYO (AP) — Osamu Suzuki, the beloved former leader of Suzuki Motor Corp., whose vision propelled the Japanese automaker to international prominence, has passed away at the age of 94, as announced by the company on Friday.
Suzuki, known for his approachable demeanor and frankness, often described himself as an “old guy from a small to mid-size company.” He took the reins as CEO in 1978 and oversaw a significant milestone when Suzuki became the first Japanese car manufacturer to establish local production in India—a move that resulted in substantial popularity for its vehicles in the market.
Born Osamu Matsuda on January 30, 1930, he initially worked in the banking sector after obtaining a law degree from Chuo University in Tokyo. His entry into Suzuki Motor in 1958 was marked by marrying the daughter of Shunzo Suzuki, who was then the company’s president and part of its founding family. Following tradition, Matsuda assumed his wife’s surname, becoming Osamu Suzuki.
In 1979, a year after ascending to the presidency, he introduced an affordable minicar that quickly became a bestseller, reaching markets worldwide.
Under his stewardship, Suzuki’s sales skyrocketed more than tenfold, reaching an impressive 3 trillion yen (approximately $19 billion) in the 2000s. He also played a pivotal role in forming strategic alliances with major global corporations like General Motors and Volkswagen AG during that decade. Notably, in 2019, amid evolving industrial dynamics, Suzuki forged a partnership with Toyota Motor Corp. to work together on developing self-driving technologies.
While many Japanese automakers expanded their offerings to include a wide range of vehicles targeting the U.S. and Chinese markets, Suzuki maintained its focus on mini and compact cars, primarily catering to customers in South and Southeast Asia. Recognizing the significance of grassroots understanding, Suzuki emphasized, “Making good quality and low-price products is the basis of manufacturing. We cannot lower costs while sitting in the offices of president or chairperson, so I have to be in a factory to understand the work and get ideas.”
Suzuki stepped down from the presidency in 2015 at the age of 85, passing the leadership to his son, Toshihiro Suzuki. He continued to contribute to the company as an advisor after resigning as chairman in 2021.
The company announced that Osamu Suzuki passed away on Wednesday due to malignant lymphoma.
