In a move to make its global two-wheeler business more profitable, Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to revamp its organisational structure and proactively find solutions to normalise the motorcycle business and make it more agile through “individual accounting.”
The Japanese manufacturer has decided that the motorcycle company will be newly established as an in-house company, which will report directly to the president. Suzuki Motor Corp has also made changes in the key management which will see representative director and president Toshihiro Suzuki appointed as the executive general manager for the Motorcycle Company.
In terms of individual accounting from operations, Suzuki Motor's organisational structure will be divided into four key companies – Motorcycle Company, Corporate Planning Office, Automobile Engineering and Research & Development. Under this programme, specific departments will be established (as detailed below).
Specific to Suzuki Motorcycle India, Koichiro Hirao, Group Manager, ASEAN Motorcycle Group, Motorcycle Operations, has been appointed as the new president for India operations. Hirao is familiar with Suzuki’s Indian operations as part of his earlier stint as the group manager, ASEAN Motorcycle Group, Motorcycle Operations. He will be looking to further grow the company's sales in the country.
Meanwhile, Satoshi Uchida – who is currently the deputy executive general manager (India/Middle-East/Africa Motorcycle), Motorcycle Operations, as well as president, Suzuki Motorcycle India – will now take charge as the managing officer in charge of marketing and India, Motorcycle Company.
In the first 11 months of FY2019 (April 2018-February 2019), Suzuki Motorcycle India has sold a total of 7,46,839 units (up 2.73 percent from the previous year year), which gives it a 3.78 percent market share.
Azaman Chothia
