He married into the name but ended up making the car brand a global success. On Christmas Day, Osamu Suzuki died of lymphoma. He was 94 years old.
Japan's auto industry is in mourning after former Suzuki Managing Director Osamu Suzuki, who was the CEO of the Suzuki car brand for many years, died of lymphoma on Christmas Day. He was 94 years old.
Suzuki, who was not related to founder Michio Suzuki, became a central figure in the company's history through his marriage to Shoko Suzuki, the granddaughter of the founder.
Osamu began his career at the car company in 1958 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1978, he took over as chairman of the board, having been CEO since 1973.
Reuters writes.
Osamu Suzuki played a significant role in the brand's global expansion. Under his leadership, India in particular became a key market. During the 1990s, Suzuki became dominant in the country, where up to three out of four cars sold came from the Japanese brand.
In addition to its growth in India, Suzuki also established itself in other markets. A milestone was the development of the Suzuki Swift in collaboration with General Motors, a model that was later sold under different brands depending on the region. The Swift was introduced to the European market in 1990, where the model achieved great popularity. In Denmark, among others.
Osamu Suzuki became known for his long tenure as the car brand's top executive, a role he held for several decades.
He continued as a manager well into his 80s until he stepped down in 2016, after Suzuki was found to have cheated on a series of fuel tests. After his resignation, he served as an advisor to the company's remaining management.
Suzuki's career was marked by both successes and challenges. His strategic decisions, especially in markets other than Japan, led to significant growth. At the same time, his leadership was not without controversy. In particular, the scandal in 2016 made headlines.
Despite his retirement, Osamu Suzuki remained a central figure in the company and its history. His advisory role in later years reflected the director's continued influence on the automotive industry, even as he reached a very advanced age.
Osamu Suzuki is not the only one from the automotive world who has said goodbye to life recently. Marcello Gandini, who designed the Lamborghini Miura, passed away in March this year. Shortly before that, another very central figure in the German automotive industry died. Read more about it here .
