Osamu Suzuki, who led the Suzuki automobile company for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 94 from lymphoma, the company said.
Osamu Suzuki joined the company in 1958, when he married the daughter of one of its founders and took her last name. 20 years later, he became president of the company and relied on the production of compact cars in Japan, in the emerging markets of India and Southeast Asia, as well as in Hungary.
It was compact cars that became the hallmark of the company, thanks to which it has long occupied a dominant position in this niche. Under Osamu Suzuki's leadership, Suzuki's sales increased tenfold.
Despite the fact that in Japan Suzuki is losing ground to larger corporations, in India by 2023 the company will occupy more than 40% of the market.
Osamu Suzuki stepped down as president of the company in 2015 at the age of 85, handing over this post to his son Toshihiro Suzuki.