Suzuki, Maruti to establish OSCOE in tribute to Late Osamu Suzuki: Details
Suzuki Motor Corporation and Maruti Suzuki India have proposed to establish the Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence (OSCOE) in India. The announcement was made during a remembrance event held at Yashobhoomi in Delhi, in memory of Late Osamu Suzuki, former Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, who passed away on December 25, 2024.
OSCOE: Aimed at boosting manufacturing competitiveness
The proposed centres will come up in Gujarat and Haryana, aiming to promote Japanese manufacturing philosophies that Suzuki introduced to India. These practices, known for their focus on efficiency, precision and quality, helped shape Maruti Suzuki’s journey into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands.
OSCOE will work as a platform to raise the bar for manufacturing standards in the country, especially among component makers across all tiers. It will also act as a bridge between industry and academia, developing infrastructure and launching training programmes, seminars and lectures to pass on the Japanese approach to manufacturing excellence. Importantly, the Centre’s impact is expected to extend beyond the automotive sector into other manufacturing domains as well.
Osamu Suzuki: The legend behind common man’s car in India
Osamu Suzuki’s influence on India’s mobility landscape is historic. He was instrumental in making car ownership a reality for millions of Indians, while also helping build India into a globally competitive automobile manufacturing hub. Born in January 1930, the Japanese industrialist joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1958 and led the company through multiple decades, holding several key leadership positions.
His long list of accolades includes India’s Padma Bhushan (2007) and, most recently, the Padma Vibhushan in 2025. He also received several honours from Japan and Hungary, including the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun and multiple degrees of the Hungarian Order of Merit.
The Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence is envisioned as a long-term initiative to continue his work, drive innovation, and uplift Indian manufacturing.
