Suzuki Philippines marked the beginning of its milestone 50th Anniversary celebration with the One Suzuki Kick-Off Ride, an extraordinary two-day event held on January 28-29, 2025. This unique gathering brought together Suzuki’s Motorcycle, Automobile, and Marine Divisions as One Suzuki Family, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.
Suzuki Philippines President, Mr. Koichiro Hirao, emphasized the significance of this event, “Suzuki has been part of the lives of millions of Filipinos for five decades. From motorcycles to automobiles to marine products, our vehicles have become life companions—on and beyond the road. Today, we invite you to experience the full breadth of the Suzuki story and continue to build a brighter future together.”
Managing Director Mr. Norminio Mojica echoed this sentiment, highlighting Suzuki’s strong presence in the country. “Suzuki is within the top five automotive brands in the Philippines across all divisions, with over 4,200 network outlets nationwide. This success is not just due to our quality products, but also to the strong relationships we’ve built with our dealer network and media friends.”
The event was graced by 62 top-tier media personalities and influencers from 57 networks and publications, making it one of Suzuki’s most significant engagements to date. The adventure began with a thrilling ride from Suzuki Philippines’ plant in Canlubang, Laguna. Motorcycle media experienced the power and performance of various Suzuki motorcycle models – Raider R150 Fi, Smash Fi, Burgman Street Standard and EX variants, GIXXER Series (both the 250cc and 155cc models) and the V-STROM 250 SX, while automotive media took the Jimny 5-Door and XL7 Hybrid on a scenic drive to the breathtaking Pico de Loro. After a fulfilling lunch, attendees were treated to an exhilarating boat ride experience showcasing Suzuki’s high-performance outboard motors. Nine speed boats powered by Suzuki’s Twin DF300 and DF350s took the participants across the waters of Nasugbu, Batangas which lasted until sunset, allowing guests to witness the stunning seascape.
The whole experience was designed to highlight the brand’s common manufacturing engineering philosophy across all divisions which revolves around power, speed, quality and reliability while keeping its commitment to sustainability.
The first day of the event concluded with a relaxing beachfront dinner and social gathering, complete with entertainment, exciting raffles, and engaging games. This provided an opportunity for the media to bond with Suzuki executives and fellow participants, strengthening the camaraderie among the Suzuki family.
Automobile Division Director and General Manager Mr. Norihide Takei underscored the company’s continued growth, sharing, “Suzuki Automobile achieved a more than 10% growth in 2024, surpassing the industry average. This reflects the trust and love Filipinos have for Suzuki vehicles, from the iconic Jimny 3-Door to our latest innovations, the Jimny 5-Door and XL7 Hybrid. Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce more remarkable products that will continue making a difference in people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, Motorcycle Division Head Mr. Jose Salavarria spoke on Suzuki’s rich heritage, saying, “Suzuki’s journey in the Philippines started with motorcycles in the 1950s. Today, we have 30 models in our lineup, 12 of which are proudly manufactured in the Philippines. Our Laguna plant caters not only to local demand but also to export markets in neighboring Asian countries. Our commitment to innovation will continue, ensuring we provide the latest technology to meet Filipinos’ mobility needs.”
Speaking on behalf of Marine and After Sales Service Division, Mr. Yukio Sato, the General Manager added, “The Philippines, with its rich maritime culture, provided the perfect environment for Suzuki to offer reliable, efficient outboard motors to meet the needs of boat operators, and recreational boaters. Whether it was small engines for smaller boats or high-powered motors for larger vessels, Suzuki quickly became synonymous with reliability. Our outboards allowed every Filipino, whether navigating calm waters or tackling rough seas, to have confidence in the quality and performance of their Suzuki product.”
He also underscored that Suzuki’s commitment to provide the best After Sales Service that purchasing a motorcycle, automobile or an outboard motor is a significant investment and the responsibility goes beyond the point of sale. Suzuki guarantees to be there with the Customers every step of the way, ensuring that your Suzuki product performs at its best, year after year.
The next day saw the participants’ enthusiastic hands-on test drive session of the brand’s motorcycles and automobiles, further reinforcing Suzuki’s innovative mobility solutions. Both riders and drivers shared the same optimistic feedback of the vehicles’ performance.
The One Suzuki Kick-Off Ride is just the beginning of a year-long celebration, with Suzuki Philippines gearing up for an even bigger anniversary event in the middle of 2025. As the company moves forward, the executives also hinted new models to be launched during their golden year. Suzuki is committed to its legacy of providing high-quality, reliable and innovative mobility solutions towards carbon neutrality continuing be the Filipinos’ Life Companion On and Beyond the Road.
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