Suzuki Invests in Cars Inc. to Advance AI-Driven Solutions for Automotive Sales and Maintenance Shops
Suzuki Motor Corporation (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Toshihiro Suzuki; hereinafter “Suzuki”) has announced a new strategic investment in cars Inc. (Headquarters: Nara City, Nara Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Takaaki Todo; hereinafter “cars”). The investment was made jointly with Suzuki Global Ventures, the company’s corporate venture capital fund. Cars is a technology-driven firm that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms to address operational and business challenges faced by automobile sales and maintenance shops across Japan.
Through this collaboration, Suzuki intends to support greater management efficiency for these local businesses while building a sustainable and resilient automotive aftermarket. The shared goal is to ensure that customers can continue to enjoy safe, reliable, and worry-free mobility for years to come.
Addressing Growing Challenges in the Automotive Aftermarket
The environment surrounding automobile sales and maintenance in Japan is undergoing rapid and complex changes. Many of the small- and medium-sized shops that have traditionally formed the backbone of the country’s automotive aftermarket now face unprecedented difficulties. Business continuity is increasingly threatened by three interrelated factors:
- Labor shortages caused by demographic aging and declining birthrates, which have made it difficult for shops to secure skilled personnel.
- Technological complexity of modern vehicles, including the integration of advanced driver-assistance systems, electrification, and connected technologies, which require specialized training and tools.
- The accelerating need for digitalization, as customer service, administrative functions, and inventory management become more dependent on advanced digital platforms.
Without solutions to these challenges, many regional businesses may struggle to survive, potentially undermining the resilience of Japan’s entire automotive ecosystem.
Cars’ Digital Solutions
In this environment, cars has positioned itself as a key innovator. The company provides services such as “cars MANAGER”, a platform that uses AI and digital technologies to improve customer acquisition, streamline administrative workflows, and enhance overall management efficiency for sales and maintenance shops. By automating routine tasks and offering data-driven insights, the service helps businesses operate more effectively while allowing staff to focus on providing quality service to customers.
For vehicle owners, this means more reliable access to maintenance and repair services, improved customer communication, and ultimately, a better overall car life experience.
Suzuki’s Commitment to Regional Partners
Suzuki has a long history of working closely with local automobile sales and maintenance shops throughout Japan. These shops, deeply rooted in their communities, are essential in ensuring that customers—especially those in rural and regional areas—can use their vehicles with confidence and security.
By investing in cars, Suzuki is reinforcing its commitment to supporting these vital partners. The company sees this collaboration as an important step in helping regional shops adapt to the shifting dynamics of the automotive industry while continuing to serve their communities effectively.
Building a Sustainable Automotive Aftermarket
Through the new partnership, Suzuki and cars will promote deeper collaboration by leveraging the expertise of both companies and expanding the use of cars MANAGER across sales and maintenance networks. Together, they will develop innovative tools and practices that enable shops to adapt more readily to industry transformations such as electrification, AI integration, and intelligent vehicle technologies.
This initiative not only supports the immediate operational needs of shop owners but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the automotive aftermarket in Japan. The ultimate aim is to ensure a safe and secure car life for customers while maintaining a healthy and resilient industry infrastructure.
Leadership Comments
Takaaki Todo, President of cars Inc., emphasized the company’s mission and the benefits of the collaboration:
“At cars, our goal is to support the management efficiency of small- and medium-sized automobile sales and maintenance shops through the use of AI and digital technologies. We believe this will contribute to the sustainable development of the automotive aftermarket. By working with Suzuki, we can accelerate the delivery of solutions to the challenges faced by regional networks and help ensure that customers across Japan enjoy a safe and comfortable car life. We remain committed to technological innovation and continuous service improvement, working hand in hand to shape the future of Japan’s automotive aftermarket.”
Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to its partners:
“Automobile sales and maintenance shops are vital pillars of Japan’s automotive aftermarket, and Suzuki has always walked alongside them. As we enter a new era defined by labor shortages, digitalization, electrification, and intelligent vehicle technologies, we recognize the need to evolve together. Our collaboration with cars represents an important step in addressing these challenges. We are determined to continue supporting our partners and to grow alongside them, ensuring that they remain strong contributors to the future of Japan’s automotive industry.”
