In one of the rarest of rare occurrences, a foreign national has been conferred India’s second highest civilian award. The Government of India has conferred Late Osamu Suzuki with Padma Vibhushan, posthumously in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of trade and industry.
The formal conferment ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on 28th April 2025. The award was presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and accepted by Osamu’s son, Toshihiro Suzuki, on his behalf. The Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and Former Director & Honorary Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), passed away on 25 December 2024.
On receiving the Padma Vibushan, Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of SMC said, “My sincere gratitude to the Honourable President of India and the Government of India for awarding the prestigious Padma Vibhushan to my father, Mr. Osamu Suzuki, former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation. I have just received this high-level award on his behalf, and I am deeply honoured. I believe he is, from heaven, looking back fondly on the 45 years he spent with India, his second home.”
Osamu Suzuki contributions
Beginning with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units in 1983 under the leadership of Osamu Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki has reached several major milestones. By 2024, the company had achieved a cumulative production of 30 million vehicles and an annual output of 2 million units. Additionally, since initiating exports in the 1980s, Maruti Suzuki has cumulatively exported over 3 million vehicles. Today, the company accounts for approximately 43% of all passenger vehicle exports from India.
Recently, MSIL announced that the company will establish a new centre of excellence named Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence (OSCOE) in India. The new centre, set to come up in Haryana and Gujarat, is being established to highlight Osamu Suzuki’s contribution towards nation-building and for wide propagation of his manufacturing philosophy.