Suzuki Restructures U.S. Operations
Suzuki Motor of America Inc. has said a plan is in motion to restructure its U.S.-based operations, reorganizing its marine and motorcycle/ATV divisions as two companies that will run as separate entities. The new organizations will go forward on April 1 of next year.
A rendering of its Marine Technical Center in Panama City.
The company’s headquarters will move as well. For the marine segment, Suzuki Marine USA LLC will now be based on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Tampa — down the coast from the company’s new Marine Technical Center in Panama City and still within the epicenter of the state’s many boatbuilders, dealers and vendors.
Satoshi Uchida will serve as chairman of Suzuki Motor Co, with Masahiro Yamamoto named president of the new marine entity.
Suzuki Marine announced a new 140-hp outboard earlier this year — the first 4-stroke outboard in its class to include factory drive-by-wire technology.
With the move, Uchida and the Suzuki team believes that Suzuki Marine is positioning itself for sales growth and better collaboration within the respective business segments.
“Both the Motorcycle/ATV and Marine Divisions are enjoying solid success in their respective businesses,” said Uchida in a statement. “As we proceed in reorganizing into two separate companies, we look forward to the Suzuki brand continuing to thrive in the United States.”
