Latest news with #OsamuSuzuki
The Star
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Suzuki Motor's boil-in-the-bag curry for Indian employees to hit store shelves
A package of Suzuki Motor Corp.'s brown chickpea masala curry. - The Yomiuri Shimbun HAMAMATSU, (Japan): A boil-in-the-bag version of the vegetarian curry developed for Indian employees of Suzuki Motor Corp. in Hamamatsu soon will hit store shelves. Suzuki, which employs many people from India, jointly developed authentic Indian vegetable curry for the company cafeteria with Torizen, a local company which operates restaurants and wedding halls in Hamamatsu. The curry has won favor among Indian employees who said it tastes like the cooking in their home country. Therefore, Suzuki decided to produce and sell boil-in-the-bag versions. Four different varieties of curry will go on sale, which are made with beans and other vegetables to suit the demands of people from India, where there are many vegetarians. One of the Suzuki curry varieties — brown chickpea masala curry — was given as a gift to guests at the memorial gathering for Osamu Suzuki, the former Suzuki chairman who passed away in December. The packages for the curry soon to go on sale will be adorned with illustrations of Suzuki vehicles, such as a Jimny four-wheel-drive car and a motorbike. 'Osamu Suzuki would often say India was his second home country. I hope many people will appreciate the authentic taste [of our Indian curry],' said a Suzuki employee. - The Yomiuri Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Suzuki Motor's Boil-in-the-Bag Curry to Hit Store Shelves; Recipe Popular Among Indian Employees at Company Cafeteria
The Yomiuri Shimbun A package of Suzuki Motor Corp.'s brown chickpea masala curry HAMAMATSU — A boil-in-the-bag version of the vegetarian curry developed for Indian employees of Suzuki Motor Corp. in Hamamatsu soon will hit store shelves. Suzuki, which employs many people from India, jointly developed authentic Indian vegetable curry for the company cafeteria with Torizen, a local company which operates restaurants and wedding halls in Hamamatsu. The curry has won favor among Indian employees who said it tastes like the cooking in their home country. Therefore, Suzuki decided to produce and sell boil-in-the-bag versions. Four different varieties of curry will go on sale, which are made with beans and other vegetables to suit the demands of people from India, where there are many vegetarians. One of the Suzuki curry varieties — brown chickpea masala curry — was given as a gift to guests at the memorial gathering for Osamu Suzuki, the former Suzuki chairman who passed away in December. The packages for the curry soon to go on sale will be adorned with illustrations of Suzuki vehicles, such as a Jimny four-wheel-drive car and a motorbike. 'Osamu Suzuki would often say India was his second home country. I hope many people will appreciate the authentic taste [of our Indian curry],' said a Suzuki employee. Suzuki Motor's curry for Indian employees to hit store shelves
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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Osamu Suzuki: The Japanese automaker who motorised middle-class India
Osamu Suzuki, the former chairman and CEO of Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation, was posthumously awarded India's second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, for his exceptional contributions to the Indian automotive industry. The recognition comes a few years after Suzuki had been awarded India's third-highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan. The recognition underlines Suzuki's role in motorising the Indian middle class and shaping the country's automotive landscape through the Maruti Suzuki venture. Here is a look back on Osamu Suzuki's life and how his work in Japan transformed the lives in India. Who was Osamu Suzuki? Born in 1930 as Osamu Matsuda, he later adopted the Suzuki surname after marrying into the founding family of Suzuki Motor Corporation. He graduated in law from Chuo University and joined the company in 1958. At the time, Suzuki was still evolving from its origins as a loom maker and had only begun experimenting with compact vehicles. Osamu Suzuki rose through the ranks to become president in 1978 and later chairman, guiding the company for over four decades. His leadership was marked by frugality, an eye for emerging markets, and an unwavering belief in the future of small, affordable vehicles. The rise of Suzuki Motor Corporation Under Osamu Suzuki's stewardship, the company expanded its global footprint, especially in developing countries. He steered Suzuki towards becoming a key player in compact and efficient automobiles, setting it apart from other Japanese carmakers that focused on larger vehicles. By the 1980s, Suzuki had already made inroads into markets such as Pakistan, Indonesia, and Hungary, but his most significant impact would come in India. How Suzuki entered India India, in the early 1980s, was a protectionist, license-controlled economy with limited options in the automobile sector. Recognising the opportunity, Osamu Suzuki personally championed a joint venture with the Indian government. In 1982, Suzuki Motor Corporation partnered with the Government of India to establish Maruti Udyog Limited, with the aim of manufacturing modern, affordable cars for Indian consumers. This venture led to the launch of the iconic Maruti 800 in 1983, a model that revolutionised car ownership in India. At a time when cars were a luxury, the Maruti 800 offered reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability, which targeted the rising middle class. 'Without his vision and foresight, his willingness to take a risk that no one else was willing to take, his deep and abiding love for India, and his immense capabilities as a teacher, I believe the Indian automobile industry could not have become the powerhouse that it has become. Millions of us in this country are living better lives because of Osamu San,' Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava had said on his passing. Maruti Suzuki: The success story The Maruti Suzuki collaboration soon became the most successful Indo-foreign joint venture in the country's history. Osamu Suzuki's localisation strategy, which focused on Indian suppliers, workforce training, and adapting to local tastes, helped build a strong ecosystem around the automobile industry in India. On his passing, many of those who had worked with Suzuki recalled how he frequently visited Indian facilities, maintained close relationships with stakeholders, and encouraged constant innovation tailored to local needs. In an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK television, he once said, 'Making good quality and low-price products is the basis of manufacturing... We cannot lower costs while sitting in the offices of the president or chairperson, so I have to be in a factory to understand the work and get ideas.' Beyond manufacturing, his insistence on service networks and customer satisfaction played a vital role in the brand's dominance. From the Alto to the Swift, WagonR to Baleno, Maruti Suzuki introduced several models over the decades that were tailored for Indian roads and wallets. Suzuki's legacy: Brand building, job generation While Suzuki's impact was global, his contributions to India were unique in scale and depth. He not only helped build a brand but also shaped an industry, including creating jobs, fostering industrial development, and setting standards for quality and efficiency. He received several international honours, including India's Padma Bhushan in 2007. With the posthumous Padma Vibhushan in 2025, India has now recognised Osamu Suzuki not just as a businessman, but as a nation-builder. Osamu Suzuki's son collects Padma Vibhushan award Toshihiro Suzuki, his son and the current president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, accepted the award on his late father's behalf. Osamu Suzuki passed away on December 25, 2024 at the age of 94 due to malignant lymphoma. The honour marks a full-circle moment in a decades-long partnership between the Japanese automaker and India.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
India honours Osamu Suzuki with Padma Vibhushan for Maruti legacy: Details
In a heartfelt tribute to a man who helped transform India's automotive landscape, the Government of India has posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan to Osamu Suzuki , the former Chairman of and Honorary Chairman of India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The honour was conferred by President Droupadi Murmu at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 28, 2025. Accepting the award on his behalf was his son, Toshihiro Suzuki , who currently serves as the President and Representative Director of Suzuki Motor Corporation. In his emotional address, Toshihiro said he was honoured to receive this recognition for his father, who spent over four decades nurturing Suzuki's bond with India, a country he fondly considered his 'second home'. "This award belongs to all Suzuki and Maruti Suzuki employees and business partners who've walked this journey with us,' Toshihiro added. Maruti Suzuki e Vitara First Look: 500+ km range, safety, tech explained | TOI Auto Osamu Suzuki's legacy in India Osamu Suzuki, who passed away in December 2024, left behind a legacy few in the automotive world can match. At a time when most global manufacturers hesitated to enter the Indian market, Suzuki saw opportunity. In 1982, he bet an entire year's profit of Suzuki Motor Corporation on a collaboration with the Indian government's newly-formed Maruti Udyog Ltd. That bold move gave rise to the Maruti 800 in 1983 — a car that changed the face of personal mobility in India. Under his guidance, Maruti Suzuki went from manufacturing 1 lakh vehicles a year in its early days to achieving an annual output of 2 million units by 2024. The company crossed a cumulative production milestone of 30 million vehicles and today, contributes to 43% of all passenger vehicle exports from India. Its export journey, which began in the 1980s, has now exceeded 3 million units cumulatively. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Born on January 30, 1930, and educated in law from Chuo University, Osamu Suzuki joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1958. Known for his frugal mindset and long-term vision, he steered the company through some of its most challenging periods, including emission regulation pressures in the 1970s. His strategic alliances — from Toyota in Japan to General Motors globally — helped Suzuki become a truly international brand. Over the years, he received multiple awards including Japan's Medal with Blue Ribbon (1987), the Order of the Rising Sun (2000), and a place in the Japan Automobile Hall of Fame (2002). India had earlier honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2007. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India.
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Former Suzuki Motor Chief, Osamu Suzuki, Posthumously Conferred with Padma Vibhushan
Osamu Suzuki, the former Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, who led the company for more than 40 years, has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan. India's second-highest civilian honour was conferred by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on April 28. Receiving the award on his late father's behalf, Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, expressed gratitude. Osamu Suzuki played a crucial role in the development of the Indian automotive sector. He was instrumental in the company's choice to enter the Indian market in 1983, which ultimately led to a collaboration with the Indian government to create Maruti Udyog Limited. This effort provided Indian consumers with affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles. Also Read: By the 1990s, the partnership between Maruti and Suzuki had gained considerable recognition, producing more than 200,000 units annually and transforming India into a manufacturing hub for Suzuki vehicles in the region. Osamu Suzuki's aspirations extended beyond just automobiles; he established partnerships, ventured into new markets, and evolved Suzuki Motor into an internationally recognized brand. Throughout the 1990s, the collaboration between Maruti and Suzuki received substantial fame, generating over 200,000 vehicles each year and establishing India as a crucial manufacturing center for Suzuki cars in the region. For the year 2025, the President has approved the conferment of 139 Padma Awards, including cases where two recipients are considered as one. The roster includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri Awards. Among the recipients, there are 23 women, and the list features 10 individuals categorized as Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, along with 13 awardees honored posthumously.
