Powered by a global shift towards small, fuel-efficient cars and its lead in the burgeoning Indian market, Suzuki Motor Corp joined the top 10 list of the world's biggest automakers for the first time, based on sales for the first half of 2008.

The Hamamatsu, Japan-based company is also the world's third-ranked motorcycle maker behind Honda Motor Co (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Yamaha Motor Co. Following are five facts about Suzuki Motor:

* Established as a loom maker by Michio Suzuki in 1909, Suzuki sold its first motorised bicycle in 1952 and its first passenger car, the 360cc Suzulight, in 1955.

* Current Chief Executive Officer Osamu Suzuki, born Osamu Matsuda, joined the company, founded by his wife's grandfather, 50 years ago and has been at the helm for the last 30.

* Builds the world's fastest motorcycle, called Hayabusa, said to have recorded speeds of over 300 km (186 miles) per hour.

* General Motors Corp, once Suzuki's top shareholder with a 20 percent stake, is still one of its biggest owners with 3 percent. Suzuki bought back the rest from cash-strapped GM in early 2006 and holds it as treasury stock with the option of selling it back to the U.S. automaker. The two companies have been business partners since 1981.

* Entering the nascent Indian market in the early 1980s, Suzuki sells about half of all new cars there through majority-held unit Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. India is now its single-biggest market, ahead of Japan.

(Compiled by Chang-Ran Kim)