Suzuki Announces Growth Strategy for FY2030

Suzuki Motor Corporation announced its Growth Strategy for FY2030. With the motto to deliver “value-packed products” by focusing on the customer, Suzuki will carry out its unique Growth Strategy for FY2030 by operating under the principle of manufacturing “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty)”, “Lean Management” which emphasizes flexibility, agility, and the challenging spirit, and the “Three Actuals” principle, which omits impracticality and focuses on the actual place, thing, and situation.

For FY2030, Suzuki will contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral society and the economic growth of emerging countries such as India, ASEAN, and Africa, with our main business regions, Japan, India, and Europe, as the core. We will focus on creating solutions that are unique to Suzuki, which are to develop products and services focused on the customer, and grow along with the operating countries and regions.

AUTOMOBILES

In Japan, starting with the introduction of commercial mini-vehicle battery EVs in FY2023, we plan to introduce compact SUVs and passenger mini-vehicles, with 6 models to be launched by FY2030. In addition, we will develop new hybrids for mini and compact vehicles, and by combining them with battery EVs, we will offer various options for our customers. In Europe, we will introduce battery EVs in FY2024, expand to SUVs and B-segments, with 5 models to be launched by FY2030. We will respond flexibly to environmental regulations and customer needs in each European country. In India, we will introduce the SUV battery EV announced at the Auto Expo 2023 in FY2024, with 6 models to be launched by FY2030. To provide a full range of products and services, Suzuki will provide not only battery EVs but also carbon neutral internal combustion engine vehicles that use CNG, biogas, and ethanol mixed fuels.

(BATTERY EV INTRODUCTION PLAN) 

MOTORCYCLES

For small and mid-sized motorcycles, which are used for daily transportation such as commuting to work, school or shopping, we will introduce a battery EV in FY2024. We plan to launch 8 models by FY2030 with a battery EV ratio of 25%. For large motorcycles for leisure purposes, we are considering adopting carbon neutral fuels.

OUTBOARD MOTORS

For small outboard motors that are often used in lakes and rivers, we will introduce battery EVs in FY2024. We plan to launch 5 models by FY2030 with a battery EV ratio of 5%. For large outboard motors used in the ocean, we are considering adopting carbon neutral fuels.

NEW ELECTRIC MOBILITY 

Suzuki has proposed a variety of electric mobility options, including the electro senior vehicle, which is a new mode of transportation for people who have voluntarily returned their driver’s licenses, the KUPO, which is an evolution of the senior vehicles, and the Mobile Mover^*, a multi-purpose robotic dolly being developed in collaboration with M2 Labo. We will take on the challenge of small mobility which supports our lives in new market segments created by the diversification of customer needs and changes in the environment.

*Mobile Mover is a registered trademark of M2 Labo.

Suzuki will challenge to achieve carbon neutrality of domestic plants in FY2035.

SUZUKI SMART FACTORY CREATION 

We are promoting the Suzuki Smart Factory Creation by drawing out how manufacturing should be in 2030, so that we continue to become a company that secures people’s means of mobility worldwide. By combining Suzuki’s principle of manufacturing “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty)” with digitalization, we will optimize, minimize, and simplify the flow of data, things, and energy. Through these initiatives, we will become lean and tackle for carbon neutrality.

INITIATIVES BY DOMESTIC PLANTS

At the Kosai Plant, which is Suzuki’s largest production hub in Japan, efforts are made to reduce CO₂ emission of painting facilities by 30% through renewal of painting facilities and improvement of painting technologies for efficient and optimal use of energy. The plant also produces green hydrogen from renewable energies including solar power generation. The hydrogen is utilized for verification test of fuel cell transporter, which started from the end of 2022. At the Hamamatsu Plant, which is the motorcycle production hub, through reduction of energy use and conversion into renewable energy including the expansion of solar power generation facilities, the plant will now target to achieve carbon neutrality in FY2027, earlier than its initial target of FY2030. By utilizing the know-hows earned at the Hamamatsu Plant to other plants, we will make initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality of all domestic plants in FY2035.

While we expect the Indian market to grow toward FY2030, we also expect that increase in total CO₂ emission amount is unavoidable, regardless of reduction in CO₂ emission from products. We will challenge to strike a balance between increasing sales units and reducing total CO₂ emission amount. Suzuki’s unique initiative to tackle this challenge is the biogas business, in which biogas derived from cow dungs, which are dairy wastes that can be seen mainly in India’s rural area, will be produced and supplied. This biogas can be used for Suzuki’s CNG models that account for approximately 70% of CNG car market in India. Suzuki signed an MoU with the Indian government agency National Dairy Development Board and Banas Dairy, Asia’s largest dairy manufacturer, to conduct verification of biogas. We also invested in Fujisan Asagiri Biomass LLC. that makes power generation from biogas derived from cow dungs in Japan, and are beginning its study. We believe that the biogas business in India not only contributes to carbon neutrality, but also promotes economic growth and contribute to the society of India. We are also in view of expanding the business to other farming areas in regions including Africa, ASEAN, and Japan in the future.

Suzuki, the market leader of India’s automobile market, contributing to carbon neutrality and economic growth of emerging countries, is consistent with the intent of the Paris Agreement, which requires harmony between developed countries and emerging countries for reduction of CO₂ emission. We believe that we can contribute to our stakeholders throughout the world.

Suzuki headquarters, Yokohama Lab., Suzuki R&D Center India, and Maruti Suzuki will cooperate for efficient development by sharing the development in each field of future technologies, advanced technologies, and mass-production technologies. Also, the Suzuki Innovation Center is exploring new connections and innovations for Suzuki to thoroughly take root in India. We will enhance our manufacturing strength by also cooperating with outside partners including start-up companies, Suzuki Suppliers Association, and cooperation with universities in Japan and India. We will deepen our cooperation relationship with Toyota Motor Corporation while continuing to be a competitor, and aim for sustainable growth and conquer various issues surrounding the automobile industry. Through the cooperation, we will cooperate in development of advanced technologies including autonomous and battery of electrified cars, business expansion in promising emerging countries, efforts for carbon neutrality in India, as well as formation of a recycling-based society that considers the environment. The Suzuki Global Ventures, a corporate venture capital fund established in 2022, is accelerating the co-creation activities with start-up companies by exceeding the framework of each company and their conventional businesses. We will make investments in areas that serve to solve customer and social issues, and contribute to development of ecosystem that grows with start-up companies.

We will invest 2 trillion Yen in R&D expenses and 2.5 trillion Yen in capital expenditures, a total of 4.5 trillion Yen by FY2030. Of the 4.5 trillion Yen, 2 trillion Yen will be electrification-related investments, of which 500 billion Yen will be battery-related investments. 2 trillion Yen is planned to be invested for R&D expenses in areas including carbon neutrality such as electrification and biogas, as well as autonomous. 2.5 trillion Yen is planned to be invested for capital expenditures in facilities including construction of BEV battery plant and renewable energy facilities.