Suzuki's Background
- Suzuki began in 1909 as a small loom manufacturing company in Hamamatsu, Japan.
- In 1952, the company made its first motorized bike, the "Power Free," and quickly expanded into the motorcycle industry.
- Suzuki expanded into the automobile and marine industries after that, producing its first outboard motor, the D55, in 1965.
Suzuki is now one of the world's leading manufacturers of outboard motors, with a product line that runs from 2.5 hp portables to the 350 hp DF350A (see the Suzuki outboard specifications chart for the full range).
Where Are Suzuki Outboards Manufactured?
- Suzuki outboards are built in two countries: Japan and Thailand. Which plant builds a given motor depends on its size.
- In Japan, mid-size and large outboards are built at Suzuki's Kosai Plant in Shizuoka Prefecture. Outboard production was based in Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, for decades and moved to Kosai in 2018 (Suzuki Marine USA, 2022).
- Small outboards are built by Thai Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd., Suzuki's subsidiary in Thailand, which has produced outboard motors since 1999 and passed one million units in 2020. Thai Suzuki lists a 2 to 30 hp four-stroke line-up, which covers the portables in our Suzuki outboards collection; Suzuki does not publish an exact horsepower cut-off between the two plants, and the country of origin is printed on your motor's identification label.
- Country of assembly does not change the support you get. A Suzuki bought through an authorized U.S. dealer is covered by Suzuki Marine USA's limited warranty regardless of where it was built, uses the same genuine Suzuki parts, and follows the same maintenance schedule and break-in procedure.
What Makes Suzuki Outboards Unique?
Suzuki outboards are known for dependability, fuel economy, and performance. A few factors behind that reputation:
- Suzuki invests heavily in research and development, constantly looking for new technologies to improve the performance and efficiency of its outboards.
- Suzuki is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products, and its four-stroke outboards are designed to meet the strictest emissions standards in the world.
- Quality manufacturing: Suzuki outboards are built to consistent factory standards at both the Kosai Plant and Thai Suzuki, using the same engineering and quality controls.
- Warranty: Suzuki backs its outboards with a factory limited warranty when they are purchased through an authorized dealer.
Conclusion
Suzuki outboards are manufactured in Japan (Kosai Plant, Shizuoka) and Thailand (Thai Suzuki Motor), with Suzuki describing the small motors as Thai-built and the mid-size and large motors as Kosai-built. Suzuki's commitment to technology, emissions compliance, consistent manufacturing, and a factory warranty is the same whichever plant built your motor. If you are deciding between models, our guide to finding the right Suzuki outboard walks through the choices.