- It will facilitate wide propagation of Japanese manufacturing practices for high competitiveness
- Proposed to be located in Gujarat and Haryana
New Delhi 23 April 2025: Paying tribute to the legendary leader Late Mr. Osamu Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Maruti Suzuki India Limited, today announced a proposal to establish Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence (OSCOE) in India. The announcement was made as part of the remembrance event held today at Yashobhoomi, Delhi, in the memory of Late Mr. Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation, who passed away on 25th December 2024, in Japan.
Mr. Osamu Suzuki brought to India the Japanese concepts of manufacturing that not only led to high competitiveness but also resulted in creating more equitable, inclusive and cohesive society. These concepts are of deep relevance for the future growth of competitive manufacturing in India. Hence, to recognise Mr. Osamu Suzuki’s contribution towards nation-building and for wide propagation of his manufacturing philosophy that led to Maruti Suzuki’s success, this Centre of Excellence is being set up.
OSCOE is proposed to be located in Gujarat and Haryana, and will work towards fulfilling the following objectives:
- Support national objective of high manufacturing growth
- Raise the standard of component manufacturers (including tier-1, 2 & 3) to make supply chains of the country globally competitive
- Build infrastructure and develop programmes in collaboration with academia and others to propagate Japanese manufacturing philosophy. The programme would include, but not limited to formal teaching, lectures, discussions, seminars etc.
Importantly, the efforts of OSCOE would go beyond automotive sector to other areas of manufacturing.
About Late Mr. Osamu Suzuki
Mr. Osamu Suzuki was a visionary who played a crucial role in making car ownership accessible to the common man in India and in emergence of India as a major car producing nation in the world. His manufacturing philosophy led to the success of Maruti Suzuki and helped in the growth of globally relevant automobile component industry.
Born on January 30, 1930, Mr. Osamu Suzuki graduated from the Faculty of Law at Chuo University in March 1953 and began his career at Suzuki Motor Corporation in April 1958.Through his remarkable journey, Mr. Osamu Suzuki held various leadership positions and played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth and global presence.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards from different Governments, including:
| Year | Recognition/Award |
| 1987 | Medal with Blue Ribbon, Japan |
| 1993 | Commander’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, Hungary |
| 2000 | The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Japan |
| 2002 | Inducted into a Hall of Fame of Japan Automobile Hall of Fame |
| 2004 | Commander’s Cross with the Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit, Hungary |
| 2007 | Padma Bhushan, India |
| 2020 | Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, Hungary |
| 2024 | Senior Fourth Rank, Japan |
| 2025 | Padma Vibhushan, India |
For photographs from Mr. Osamu Suzuki’s remembrance event, please click the link here.
