Suzuki, a transnational company headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, specializes in building compact automobiles, a wide range of motorcycles, outboard marine engines, all-terrain vehicles, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines.

Suzuki is the ninth-largest automobile manufacturer in the world by production volume and according to statistics from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association is that country’s second-largest producer of small cars and trucks.

Suzuki says it has sold more than 40 million cars internationally since 1955, more than half of those outside its homeland. Suzuki broke the 40-million plateau just before the automaker celebrated its 100th birthday in October 2009.

Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Company in 1909, and the company became a key motorcycle manufacturer before expanding into automobiles 55 years ago.

Suzuki added marine outboard motors to its repertoire in 1965, and pre-fabricated houses nine years later. General purpose engines were added in 1980, and Suzuki launched its All Terrain Vehicle line in 1982.

These days, Suzuki automobiles are sold in 193 countries, including New Zealand where it is one of the fastest-growing brand names. The landmark reveals Suzuki’s force in global vehicle markets. New Zealand is pleased to have participated in Suzuki’s landmark 40 million sales.

Suzuki’s domestic lineup includes the latest-generation Swift hatchback, which has been a high-selling small car since its introduction in the United States in 2005. The Swift is now manufactured in seven countries. While three assembly plants have been established in Japan, the automaker now also builds cars in 15 plants in 14 other countries, including Indonesia, Hungary and India.

Included in Suzuki’s landmark total are ten million Alto hatchbacks, 2.6 million Grand Vitaras and more than one million present-model Swift hatchbacks.

In 2008, Suzuki sold 2.3 million cars around the world, including 315,000 units in Europe despite its complicated trade environment.