One of the more popular theories on the origin of the S is Suzuki Motors and their famous S emblem. A global icon that has adorned motorcycles and cars across the globe. As we research the origins of Suzuki we found some crazy facts that only die hard fans would know.
- Michio Suzuki
Let's take a look at the first 30 years.
In 1909, Michio Suzuki (1887–1982) founded the Suzuki Loom Works in the small seacoast village of Hamamatsu, Japan. Business boomed as Suzuki built weaving looms for Japan's giant silk industry.
In 1929, Michio Suzuki invented a new type of weaving machine, which was exported overseas. The company's first 30 years focused on the development and production of these machines. Despite the success of his looms, Suzuki believed that his company would benefit from diversification and he began to look at other products.
Based on consumer demand, he decided that building a small car would be the most practical new venture. The project began in 1937, and within two years Suzuki had completed several compact prototype cars. These first Suzuki motor vehicles were powered by a then-innovative, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder engine. It had a cast aluminum crankcase and gearbox and generated 13 horsepower (9.7 kW) from a displacement of less than 800cc."
But what about the logos?
The inspiration for the Suzuki logo came when Michio Suzuki had a desire to create a logo that would appeal to Japanese audiences as well as English. This strategy was a part of his overall marketing plan. The brand name emerged in written English, but this would not suffice for the Japanese audience. The curves and lines of the letter “S” were made in a manner that would be recognizable to the Japanese consumer base as characters from the kanji (Japanese letters).
Did you know the mystery behind the designs of the logo?
There is no getting around the fact that the S in the Suzuki logo is very different. There is a hidden meaning behind the shape of the letter that goes beyond the need to appeal to the Japanese market audience. The four corners given to the logo represent the four-cylinder, four-stroke engines of the motorcycle that Suzuki produces. It also represents the four-wheel-drive units that are featured in select Suzuki vehicles. The four corners draw attention to the innovations of the Suzuki company.
Let's take a look at the timeline of the Suzuki logos and how they have developed over the years.
1909 - 1958
1958 - Present Day 
Now let's now take a look at the logos side by side:
And on top of each other:
Whilst the Suzuki symbol was most definitely a massively popular brand, and also scribbled on notepads and school desks alike, it is not the true origin of the S. Beep Beep.