Manzar Naqvi
TOKYO: A high-level media delegation from Pakistan, led by Senator Syed Sarmad Ali, Managing Director of the Jang Group, and Mubasher Mir, President of the Karachi Editors Club (KEC), visited the headquarters of Suzuki Motor Corporation in Hamamatsu, Japan, on Thursday. The delegation was accompanied by Hiroshi Kawamura, Managing Director of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited, along with senior executives of Pak Suzuki, Amir Shaffi and Ikhlaq Ahmed Virk. Senior management members of Suzuki Motor Corporation, including Masafumi Harano, Motohiro Atsumi, and Kensaku Imaizumi, warmly received and briefed the delegation. Members of the Pakistani media team included Manzar Naqvi, Secretary General KEC, Mansoor Bukhari, Noor Ullah, and Shehzad Gul.
During the visit, Suzuki Motor Corporation’s senior management delivered a comprehensive presentation on the company’s global operations, its new corporate philosophy, and its long-term vision under the slogan “By Your Side.” The executives explained that “By Your Side” represents Suzuki’s century-old commitment to staying close to its customers – developing vehicles, motorcycles, and technologies that enrich communities while remaining practical, efficient, and environmentally responsible. This new identity underscores Suzuki’s transformation from a vehicle manufacturer into a comprehensive mobility infrastructure provider, supporting diverse lifestyles and communities around the world. The management also shared that over 10,000 employees are currently serving at the Hamamatsu headquarters.
Suzuki’s representatives outlined the company’s Mid-Term Management Plan for fiscal years 2025-2030, charting an ambitious course toward innovation, profitability, and carbon neutrality. The plan targets revenue of ¥8 trillion by FY2030, an operating profit margin of 10 percent or higher, and a return on equity of 13 percent, with the goal of exceeding 15 percent by the early 2030s. Additionally, Suzuki has committed ¥2 trillion each toward capital expenditure and research and development over the next six years. The company reaffirmed its strategic focus on three key regions – Japan, India, and Europe – which form the backbone of its global business.
On the technological front, Suzuki’s roadmap promotes multi-pathway electrification by balancing hybrid, battery-electric (BEV), and carbon-neutral fuel technologies tailored to each region’s infrastructure. The company’s design philosophy, known as Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (“Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty”), continues to drive its pursuit of innovation and sustainability. Suzuki is also committed to reducing CO? emissions across its value chain by investing in energy storage systems, battery recycling, and circular economy initiatives. These ventures are expected to generate ¥50 billion in new-business revenue by FY2030, establishing a strong foundation for long-term growth through 2040.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, Suzuki’s senior management emphasized that the company’s philosophy has always been centered on people – their mobility, comfort, and connection to the world around them. They reaffirmed that under the vision “By Your Side,” Suzuki renews its pledge to remain close to every customer, delivering value-driven mobility solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Hiroshi Kawamura, Managing Director of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited, briefed the delegation on Suzuki’s operations in Pakistan. He said that Pak Suzuki, headquartered in Karachi and operating from its Bin Qasim Industrial Estate facility, is engaged in the progressive manufacturing, assembly, marketing, and distribution of cars, light commercial vehicles, vans, and motorcycles under the Suzuki brand. Over the decades, Pak Suzuki has played a pivotal role in developing Pakistan’s automotive sector through localization of components, vendor development, and the establishment of a nationwide network of sales and after-sales service centers. Its popular models include the Alto, Cultus, Swift, and WagonR, along with an expanding motorcycle lineup. Kawamura emphasized the importance of long-term government policies to attract and sustain both local and international investment in Pakistan’s automotive industry.
After the briefing, Karachi Editors Club officials awarded Honorary Lifetime membership of KEC to the President and CEO Suzuki Motor Corporation Japan, T. Suzuki, Member of the board Masafumi Harano, and the Managing Director of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd, Hiroshi Kawamura. The KEC officials also presented traditional Jinnah Caps to them in recognition of their longstanding partnership and contribution to Pakistan’s auto industry.
Following the ceremony, the delegation joined Suzuki officials for lunch at the staff cafeteria of the headquarters, which operates on a self-service basis for its 10,000 employees. Later, the delegation toured the Suzuki Plaza, the official museum of Suzuki Motor Corporation, located directly opposite the headquarters in Hamamatsu. The visit offered an inspiring insight into Suzuki’s 116-year journey – from a small loom-making workshop founded by Michio Suzuki in 1909 to a global leader in mobility innovation.
Suzuki Plaza’s three-story layout traces the company’s remarkable evolution through immersive exhibits, beginning with early weaving looms and vintage motorcycles and progressing to modern compact cars and outboard motors. Visitors explored full-scale replicas of assembly lines, design and development studios, and viewed historical vehicles including the iconic Suzulight, Japan’s first mass-produced mini-car introduced in 1955. Interactive displays, original prototypes, and multimedia presentations illustrated Suzuki’s enduring engineering philosophy of innovation through simplicity and its commitment to excellence.
The visit concluded with deep appreciation for Suzuki’s century-long dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and customer trust. Standing opposite the company’s global headquarters, Suzuki Plaza remains a living testament to how a humble loom factory in Hamamatsu transformed into one of the world’s most respected mobility brands – an enduring symbol of Suzuki’s timeless promise to always remain “By Your Side.”
, visited the headquarters of Suzuki Motor Corporation in Hamamatsu, Japan, on Thursday.){kind=link}