[REPORT]
Suzuki’s Gijon plant: an industrial epic
History of the Suzuki plant in Gijon
On June 1st 1940 the Spanish entrepreneur Avello started construction of tool machines under the name of Avello & Company SL. Fifteen years later the company joined the Verghera Machanics Society, manufacturing MV Augusta Motorcycles.
Facing increased production requirements and thanks to its own success as a businessman Alfredo Avello built a new modern factory in Gijon in 1966 with 350 employees. At that time the factory covered 22,000 square meters. Over the next 20 years it manufactured several models under the MV Augusta brand: MV Deva, MV Piles, and MV Sella.
In 1970 German Steyr-Daimler Puch AG entered the Spanish market with a 50% stake of the company. During 1970’s the the production of MV vehicles was transferred to the Ducati factory in Bologna (Italy) and in1978 Steyr Daimler Puch took full control of the company.
In the 1970’s & 1980s, the Gijon plant manufactured an array of successful motorcycles that featured the trademark yellow colour and raged throughout Spain. Puch Cobra, Puch Conder and the Minicross. A whole generation grew up with these captivating, light motorcycles and today they are the object of desire of collectors.
Suzuki was the last of the four Japanese PTW manufacturers to land in Spain. But instead of settling down in Cataluña, Suzuki choose the Asturias for its industrial tradition, its port and the successful track record in the motorcycle sector of the Avello company.
The first partnership agreement between Avello and Suzuki was signed in 1984 leading to the production of the Lido, a scooter soon nicknamed el gran japones and marking the beginning of a new era for the Gijon plant.
In 1988 Suzuki Motor Corporation acquired 100% of the company. Two years later the industrial conglomerate formed by Steyr Daimler Puch fell apart and its motorcycle division was acquired by Piaggio.
Suzuki became an independent entity in Spain, exclusively developing and manufacturing products under the Suzuki licence.
In 1993 the new SME Plant in Gijon was opened with a 18,000 meter production facility set on a 48,000 square meter site. Today the Gijon plant is a modern, state of the art facility that implements a number of advanced manufacturing procedures outsourcing some of the processes to external contractors while enabling its employees to benefit from flexible working hours. The capacity of this plant can reach 55000 units per year depending on the needs.
Since Suzuki’s entry Gijon’s marketing objectives have changed. It’s a story of mergers, globalisation and technological progress. Before 1988 the production focused on the Spanish market with 91% of the production sold in Spain. In 2000 only 50cc mopeds were manufactured here. In June 2006 the last 50cc model was assembled in the Gijon factory.
Gijon is now the European source for a number of Suzuki bikes and it prides itself on being the only Suzuki facility outside Japan that exports its vehicles to the rest of the world.
Currently the plant produces vehicles from 125 cc to 500 cc. It gives work directly to 500 workers and for every person employed by Suzuki there are four more being hired by the auxiliary industry in the area thriving on the activity of the Gijon plant.
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