Suzuki Motor Corp. aims to develop cars twice as fast to maintain its competitive edge in an industry reshaped by Chinese automakers.
The Japanese manufacturer eyes slashing vehicle development times to 24 months by the end of this decade, from the 40 to 48 months it takes now, Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Suzuki said Friday.
“Chinese manufacturers have incredible speed,” Suzuki told reporters in Tokyo. “To keep up, we need to figure out how to move faster.”
After decades of measuring themselves against Japanese efficiency or German engineering, car executives are looking to China’s automakers as a new benchmark. The likes of BYD, Leapmotor and Xiaomi are driving competition with ultra-fast development cycles, software-first design and latest battery technology. That’s prompting legacy brands to overhaul their production systems to keep pace.
Suzuki, which pulled out of the US and Chinese markets in 2012 and 2018, is looking to India as its biggest growth engine.
The maker of the Jimny compact SUV plans to grow its production capacity there to 4 million units by 2030, from less than 3 million this year. The company expects the India car market to double or triple in size within the next few decades.
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Published on September 25, 2026
