Suzuki Motor Corp appoints Toshihiro Suzuki as CEO

Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), Japan’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturer, yesterday appointed Toshihiro Suzuki as its chief executive following the 150th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the company held yesterday.

The news comes three weeks after SMC announced that it used the wrong testing methodology for its cars and that chief executive and chairman Osamu Suzuki, who has led the company since 1978, would step down as CEO. While the long-serving Osamu Suzuki will stay on as chairman, executive vice-president Osamu Honda will retire.

Toshihiro Suzuki, 57, takes over full charge of the company and drive ‘Suzuki Next 100’, SMC’s mid-term 5-year management plan which runs from 2015 to 2020. The plan is aimed at preparing the company to firmly establish itself in the global automotive arena in 2020, when it completes 100 years.

As per the Suzuki Next 100 plan, the company is looking to make Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Hungary as production bases for global cars. At present, its automobile business growth is overwhelmingly centered in Japan (where it has a minicar market share of over 30% and compact car sales of over 100,000) and in India, where it commands a share of over 53% in passenger cars and 48% in passenger vehicles (cars, UVs and vans). Develop Indonesia and Thailand as pillars that follow Japan and India, to place them as the production base for inside and outside ASEAN The Suzuki Next 100's automobile business regional strategy plans to "develop Indonesia and Thailand as pillars that follow Japan and India, to place them as the production base for inside and outside ASEAN."   

Also read: Interview with Toshihiro Suzuki at Auto Expo 2016