The Suzuki Motor Corporation bears little resemblance to the ancestor that gave birth to it at the turn of the twentieth century. Although it is hardly recognizable as the same company, niceasicminer its founder Michio Suzuki would have no trouble recognizing the company that still bears his family name.

In the beginning, the company was known as the Suzuki Loom Company. It was located in the tiny seaside village of Hamamatsu, Japan. At this time, Japan had a huge silk industry and the Suzuki Loom Company built weaving looms. Mr. Suzuki held over 120 patents in loom building technology and exported the looms overseas as well.

Although the loom company was extremely successful, Mr. Suzuki was interested in diversifying. Because the population of Japan at this time was beginning to take interest in motorized transportation, Mr. Suzuki turned his attention to producing small automobiles. His venture was quite successful. He began producing his small passenger vehicles in 1937. Shortly after launching into the auto manufacturing business, Japan became deeply embroiled in World War II. Just as most manufacturing companies had done, Suzuki plants were converted over to production of military equipment. With the end of the war, Suzuki needed capital so it went back to what it knew the production of looms. When United States began shipping cotton to Japan, the company really began to prosper. Unfortunately, this would prove to be short-lived. The cotton market collapsed in 1941 and Mr. Suzuki’s original plans to diversify were once more put into action.

Once the war ended, the Japanese were once again interested in motorized transportation. While several companies offered a clip on type motor that was designed to be attached to a regular bicycles, Suzuki developed one of the first two stroke motorized cycles known as the “PowerFree” to be developed in Japan. The cycles were inexpensive and easy to maintain and allowed the rider to either pedal with engine assistance pedal without engine assistance or allow the engine to provide total vehicle propulsion. The Japanese government found the concept so innovative that they offered Suzuki a financial incentive to continue research in the new motorized cycle. In 1956 Suzuki Motor Corporation was born. Since that time Suzuki has expanded into manufacturing compact cars, motorcycles, ATV’s, outboard engines and motorized wheelchairs.

Suzuki now maintains a full time presence in the United States And American Suzuki is headquartered in Brea, California. The company is currently partnered with General Motors to market different styles of SUV’s and Compact cars here in the United States. In 2004, Suzuki again in conjunction with General Motors purchased the bankrupt Daewoo Motors. promote

Though the U.S economy has been steadily contracting, Suzuki has continued to post earnings in every quarter. In addition, by 2006 had sold more than 100,000 vehicles in the United States. The Suzuki Grand Vitara has been responsible for a large portion of Suzuki’s success here in America. The Grand Vitara has attracted many of the young, well-educated buyers looking for vehicles large enough to suit family life but also have a proven record of responsible environmentalism.