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Founded not as a car company, but as a maker of silk-weaving looms, Suzuki has a history stretching back over a century. Thanks to the booming Japanese silk industry at the time, the company rapidly expanded from relatively humble origins in a small village, driven in part by Michio Suzuki's innovative new loom designs which were sold overseas as well as in Japan. In order to solidify the company Suzuki started to expand into car manufacture, recognising the potential for massive growth in the market.
The design of these new vehicles began in earnest in 1937 but was halted temporarily by the onset of World War Two. After the war, the company continued with its established loom business but was forced to diversify when the cotton market was undermined in 1951. Starting with small motorbikes branded 'Power Free', Suzuki took advantage of the need for cheap transport. These innovative vehicles were similar to modern mopeds and could be pedalled as well as ridden as a motorbike. Suzuki continued to research and develop better motorbikes, producing the race-winning 'Diamond Free' model.
Suzuki cars gained a market in Japan with the Suzuki Suzulight, helping to create the light car type that remains popular in Japan and other countries for their fuel economy and ease of use. The company gradually broke into the US and European markets first by gaining renown for their highly successful bikes and then with fresh 4x4 vehicles and compact cars that appealed to American and European buyers equally. In particular, the four-wheel drive models gained strong popularity during the 1980s economic boom.
Suzuki is known for reliability and performance at a low price, and as such second hand Suzuki cars and used Suzuki cars are widely available. Their motorbikes still produce race-winners. From a certain perspective, the highest achievement of Suzuki could be maintaining their status as great all-rounders.
