HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, OLD FRIEND
THE first brand-new car I ever bought was a Suzuki Swift in 1990. I loved that car. We had a two-week honeymoon in Cuba and another week off when we came home, so we took it down to Connemara and drove every back road and boreen in it. It was bubbly and lively, and perfect for our needs at the time.
In 2006, the design was radically changed. I still remember stepping off the plane in Nice airport for the European launch and clapping eyes on it for the first time and falling instantly in love with the brazen cheekiness of it. All my fellow motoring writers did, to the point it won Irish Car of the Year that year, the only Suzuki to take the honour since the inauguration of the awards in 1978.
Suzuki celebrated its centenary this week, and while its motorbikes arguably are better known here, we’re still fond of the Swift, the Ignis and the Vitara. Suzuki began life as a loom manufacturer, and diversified into motorised bicycles and then motorbikes. Early plans to produce cars were halted by the Second World War, but in 1955, the Suzulight was the first that actually went on sale. The company also started making outboard motors for small boats.
Despite its occasionally low profile here, it is the third bestseller in its home market of Japan, and is the 11th-biggest carmaker worldwide by volume.
Director and chairman Osamu Suzuki and director and president Toshihiro Suzuki issued a joint statement to mark the centenary this week, saying: ‘All members of Suzuki Motor Corporation take this as an important milestone to reaffirm the founder’s philosophy of focusing on customers and strive to deliver products to our customers across the globe. Your kind support is truly the greatest factor that has enabled us to always be close to our customers’ daily lives and achieve our commemorative 100th anniversary.’
You can read more about the history on globalsuzuki.com/ 100th/ Meanwhile, happy birthday – and thanks for that Swift!