Suzuki

Suzuki Motors Corporation has its origins dating back to 1909. Founder Michio Suzuki, who created and headed the loom company, wanted to expand his business and thought the burgeoning automobile industry would be perfect. His plans, though, were stymied by World War II.

After the war, Suzuki continued with building and manufacturing looms until the cotton market crash in the early Fifties. Suzuki returned to the automotive industry by way of the Power Free motorcycle engine. Its success, and other vehicles, led to the company's new direction and name: Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd.

Though Suzuki started to sell bikes in the U.S. as early as the Sixties, the automaker would not bring over its first automobile until 1985 with the introduction of the Suzuki Samurai, a Jeep-like SUV. The Chevrolet Sprint, a hatchback which went on sale that same year, was a rebadged Suzuki Swift. Suzuki would not sell the Swift under its own name in the U.S. until 1989.

In 1981, Suzuki entered an alliance with General Motors and Isuzu. Besides the Chevrolet Sprint, Suzuki vehicles formed the basis for the Geo Metro and Geo Tracker. GM and Suzuki's purchase of automaker Daewoo yielded the Suzuki Forenza and Verona sedans. Recently, Suzuki announced it was retiring the Verona and would unveil a new flagship in 2009. A new Swift is also scheduled to arrive by the end of the decade.