Former Suzuki Motor Corporation chairman Osamu Suzuki passes away at 94

Osamu Suzuki, the former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away at the age of 94. A towering figure in the automotive industry, Suzuki led the company for over 40 years, transforming it into one of the most recognised names in the global automotive sector.

Born in 1930, Osamu Suzuki was the fourth son in a family that relied on agricultural income. His birth name was Osamu Matsuda, but he adopted his wife’s family name, a common practice in Japanese families without a male heir. After obtaining a law degree, Suzuki worked at a bank, where he met his future wife, Shoko Suzuki. They married in the 1950s, and he eventually became the son-in-law of Suzuki Motor’s second president.

In 1958, Osamu Suzuki left the bank and joined Suzuki Motor, the company founded by his wife’s grandfather. However, it took him two decades to rise to the position of president. Under his leadership, Suzuki grew from a company generating only a few billion dollars annually to one of the world’s leading manufacturers of small cars and motorcycles, with annual revenues exceeding 30 billion dollars. His successful strategy was largely fuelled by Suzuki’s strong foothold in international markets, particularly in India, where it became a dominant player.

Suzuki’s contributions to the automotive world were widely recognised, earning him several prestigious awards, including the “Sitara-i-Pakistan” from Pakistan and the “Padma Bhushan” from India. These honours reflected his significant impact on the industries of both countries, where Suzuki’s vehicles have played a key role in shaping the automotive landscape.

Osamu Suzuki retired in 2021 at the age of 91, marking the end of an era for Suzuki Motor Corporation.