Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced that its former chairman and managing director,Osamu Suzuki has died at the age of 94 on the Christmas Day.

The automobile giant has revealed that its longest leader lost the battle to malignant lymphoma on Wednesday at 15:53.

He died while he was serving as Senior Advisor to the management of the company which is a position that he occupied since June 2021.

Osamu graduated from Chuo University in 1953 where he was doing law studies and in 1958 he joined Suzuki Motor Corporation while was known as Suzuki Motor Co.,Ltd in April 1958 and he was appointed as a director five years later in 1963.

After his graduation at the university,it is reported that he worked in a local bank as a loan officer and his life changed completely after he married the granddaughter of the founder of Suzuki Motor Corporation,Michio Suzuki.

Due to Japanese custom,Osamu was forced to change his surname to Suzuki after marrying Shoko Suzuki because the Suzuki family did not have male heir and then he became their official adopted son.He had three children with Shoko.

In December 1967,he was appointed as Director and Managing Director,and in November 1973,he was appointed as Director and Senior Managing Director.

In 1978,he was appointed as the President and Managing Director of the corporation,and he occupied those positions up until year 2000 when he stepped down from the position of MD to takeover as Chairman of the organisation.

Over the period of three decades,Suzuki Motor Corporation expanded to the overseas markets under the guidance of Osamu,he oversaw the expansion of the company to India,Thailand,India,Philippines.

In 1980,he witnessed the opening of Suzuki's plant in Australia and followed by another one in Pakistan in 1982.

During 1980s,he expanded the brand to other markets such as New Zealand,Canada,and Nepal and Bangladesh through its Indian manufacturing unit.

In the early 1990s,he witnessed Suzuki entering Asian markets such as Korea and Vitenam,even European and African market through Hungary and Egypt.

Under his leadership,Suzuki Motor Corporation opened 60 plants in 31 countries and their customers were coming in almost 190 countries.

His death did not happened in the vacuum because different people from all walks of life has expressed the condolences and described him as a visionary.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Osamu Suzuki,a legendary figure in the global automative industry.His visionary work reshaped global perceptions of mobility.Under his leadership,Suzuki Motor Corporation became a global powerhouse,successfully navigating challenges,driving innovation and expansion.He had a profound affection for India and his collaboration with Maruti revolutionised the Indian automobile market,"said Narendra Modi,Prime Minister of India on X.

Throughout the years,Osamu received numerous honorary awards from countries such as Pakistan,Japan,Hungary and India for his outstanding contribution in those countries.

He was honored in his own country when he was inducted into the Japan Automobile Hall of Fame in November 2002.

He was born on 30 January 1930 as Samu Matsuda in the Gero City,Gifu Prefecture and over the years he was living in Hamamatsu City,Shizuoka Prefecture.