By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
TECHNEWS
Former CEO and chairman led Suzuki Motors, a Japanese leading carmaker, Osamu Suzuki has passed away.
Suzuuki succumbed to lymphoma, the company announced on Christmas Day.
Suzuki, who led the company for over four decades, was known for his frugality and ambition. He famously drove the company’s expansion beyond its initial focus on inexpensive 660cc minivehicles, originally designed for the Japanese market and benefiting from generous tax breaks.
His leadership philosophy was rooted in cutting costs wherever possible, including ordering factory ceilings to be lowered to cut air-conditioning expenses and flying economy class even in his later years.
“Forever” or “until the day I die” were Suzuki’s signature humorous replies when questioned about his tenure at Suzuki, which he tightly controlled well into his 70s and 80s.
He in 2016, handed over the CEO role to his son, Toshihiro Suzuki, but remained chairman until 2021 to advise the company.
By the time of his death, Suzuuki was one of the leading car companies in India, with Maruti Suzuuki holding over 40 percent of the the country’s car market.
