Business boomed as Suzuki built weaving looms for Japan's giant silk industry.

[10] With the onset of World War II, production plans for Suzuki's new vehicles were halted when the government declared civilian passenger cars a "non-essential commodity."

A number of firms began offering "clip-on" gas-powered engines that could be attached to the typical bicycle.

Designed to be inexpensive and simple to build and maintain, the 1952 Power Free had a 36 cc, one horsepower, two-stroke engine.

[13] The patent office of the new democratic government granted Suzuki a financial subsidy to continue research in motorcycle engineering.

The Suzulight sold with front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, which were not common on cars until three decades later.

Michio Suzuki was intent on making better, more user-friendly looms and, for 30 years his focus was on the development of these machines.

[28] After the war, Suzuki made a two-stroke motorized bicycle, but eventually the company would be known for Hayabusa and GSX-R motorcycles, for the QuadRunner, and for dominating racetracks around the world.

[29] Today Suzuki is among the world's largest automakers, and a major brand name in important markets, including Japan and India, but no longer sells cars in North America.

On 14 February 2011, Maruti announced that it had achieved one million total accumulated production volume of the Alto.

Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Vitara Brezza in the Indian Auto Expo 2016 as a contender in the subcompact SUV segment.

Also in 1996, American Suzuki released the 2-door SUV X-90 and a revised Sidekick Sport model with dual airbags, a 95 hp (71 kW) 1.6 liter engine, 15 inch wheels.

The Swift was dropped from the model lineup in 2001 and the Esteem was replaced in 2002 by the new Aerio, which was offered as a 4-door sedan and 5-door crossover with 4-wheel drive as an option.

Suzuki put XL7 production on indefinite hiatus in mid-2009 due to low demand and subsequently sold off its share of CAMI back to GM later that year.

[211] In November 2012, Suzuki announced that its US division would file for bankruptcy and would stop selling automobiles in the United States.

The combination of a strong yen and Suzuki's own limited offering of models has been blamed for the downturn.

[206] Following the terms of the joint-venture agreement between Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan (SMC) and Pakistan Automobile Corporation (PACO), Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMCL) was incorporated as a public limited company in August 1983.

PSMCL started commercial operations in January 1984 with the primary objective of passenger cars, pick ups, vans and 4x4 vehicles.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the company's green field automobile plant at Bin Qasim was performed by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan in early 1989.

Suzuki Canada will continue to provide parts and services to vehicles through dealer network, as well as selling motorcycles, ATV and outboard motors.

[214] Suzuki GB PLC are the manufacturer's agent and distributor of automobiles, motorcycles, ATV's and Marine engines in the United Kingdom with a head office based in Milton Keynes.

The company is located in Jakarta, Indonesia and specialized in manufacturing Suzuki vehicles for the domestic and international markets.

In 2011, the company invested $800 million for producing Low Cost Green Car (LCGC) in Indonesia.

[221]Current facilities: Japan: India: Indonesia (Suzuki Indomobil Motor): Pakistan: China: Taiwan: Hungary: Laos: Thailand: Vietnam: Philippines: Cambodia: Myanmar: United States: Brazil: Egypt:

Former facilities: Japan: New Zealand: Spain: China: Canada Argentina: Colombia: Malaysia: Taiwan:

A large factor in Suzuki's success in two-stroke competition was the East German Grand Prix racer Ernst Degner, who defected to the West in 1961,[233] bringing with him expertise in two-stroke engines from the East German manufacturer MZ.

The secrets Degner brought with him were three crucial technologies: the boost port,[234][235] the expansion chamber, and the rotary valve.

Suzuki hired Degner, and he won the 50 cc class FIM road racing World Championship for them in the 1962 season.

Suzuki became the first Japanese manufacturer to win a motocross world championship when Joel Robert won the 1970 250 cc title.

On 18 November 2011, Suzuki announced that the GP racing was suspended, partly due to natural disasters and recession, until 2014.