1909 — The company started out as Suzuki Loom Works. It was founded in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture Japan, by Michio Suzuki.
1952 — It created the motorized bicycle, called Power Free, which featured a 2x36cc engine. This bike was popular, so in 1954 it introduced a second bicycle.
1954 — The company's name changed to Suzuki Motor Corporation. In 1955 Suzuki introduced its first mass-produced car, the Suzulight.
1970s — The models Suzuki Fronte (in different variations such as the 360 or the Viola) and Suzuki Jimny were produced.
1981 — General Motors purchases 5% of Suzuki shares
1998 — GM purchases additional shares for a 10% stake
2001 — GM's share is up to 20.4%
March, 2006 — GM divested, selling 92.36 million shares and reducing their stake to 3% in order to raise $2 billion. Suzuki still owns 11% of GM Daewoo Auto and Technology.

Beginning with the Chevrolet Sprint, Suzuki has built cars for other manufacturers. In Europe, the main rebadged Suzuki is the Subaru Justy and G3X Justy, which has been a version of its Swift and, more recently, its Ignis. Most of Mazda's (and Autozam's) smallest vehicles are made by Suzuki, as is the Nissan Moco. Suzuki's Samurai/Sierra was also known as the Holden Drover between 1985 and 1987. The Chevrolet Cruze and Holden Cruze are also on Suzuki platforms—again the Ignis's but with a Holden-designed body. The Geo and Chevrolet Tracker were Suzuki Vitaras by another name. Suzuki has recently collaborated with Nissan, they will supply Suzuki with a mid-sized/pick up vehicle, whereas Suzuki will provide Nissan with more minicars for the Japanese home market. In addition the two companies will start manufacturing cars in India, which is an emerging market, Suzuki already owns just over 50% of Maruti Udyog Limited which sell most cars in the Indian market.