Suzuki breaks 100 million mark for cycle production

Suzuki has announced it has broken the 100 million mark for the production of motorcycles and ATVs.

The Hamamatsu-based firm made the announcement on 4 November, meaning it’s taken the company 54 years to reach the century milestone since it started making motorcycles in 1952, and 106 years since the company’s original founding in 1920 as a manufacturer of weaving looms.

The number includes both motorcycles and ATVs, or quadbikes, but is split: 97.4 million motorcycles and 2.7 million ATVs.

Reaching 100 million also comes 22 years after Suzuki reached the 50 million mark in 2004, which itself highlights the scaling of Suzuki’s production over the past two decades.

“The history of Suzuki motorcycles began with the ‘Power Free’ in 1952, which featured an innovative mechanism that allowed riders to easily switch between pedal power and engine drive,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation.

“Suzuki also pioneered the market with the introduction of the world’s first four-wheel ATV, ‘LT125’, in 1982. 

“Both the ‘Power Free’ and the ‘LT125’ were products developed with a focus on customers, inspired by the words of Michio Suzuki, who founded Suzuki in 1920: ‘If the customer needs something, we must do whatever we can to respond. We can do anything if we work hard.’

“Since then, we have introduced numerous motorcycles and ATVs developed in response to our customers’ needs, which has enabled us to reach this significant milestone. 

“On behalf of Suzuki, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our customers and Suzuki dealers around the world for their continued support and cooperation. 

“Based on our corporate slogan ‘By Your Side’, Suzuki will continue to provide products that meet the diverse needs of customers worldwide.”