Isuzu not interested in GM’s medium-duty truck operations

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Commercial Trucks, GM, GMC, Isuzu

It must be pretty hard to unload an unwanted truck business these days. Just ask General Motors, which has attempted to sell its medium-duty truck operations first to Navistar and then Isuzu. Both heavy-duty diesel makers have passed on the offer. Isuzu had been rumored as a possible buyer for the unit after Navistar let the non-binding agreement pass by unsigned. Now, Isuzu President Susumu Hosoi tells Reuters, “There will be no such acquisition happening” from his company either, suggesting that the market for heavy-duty trucks has not yet hit the bottom.

GM and Isuzu still have dealings together as the two companies jointly develop and build the Duramax engines that power the General’s most powerful full-size trucks, SUVs and vans. This cooperation is expected to continue on as it has with neither Isuzu or GM buying out the other to gain full control of the operations.

[Source: Reuters]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Isuzu, dumping product, posts highest sales since 2000

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Isuzu

Aggressive dealer cash incentives ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 on vehicles has helped Isuzu record its first quarterly sales increase in nearly eight years. The news of 2,007 new units out the door follows the not-so-shocking report earlier this year that Isuzu is abandoning the U.S. market — ergo the fire sale.

There are 201 Isuzu dealers in the U.S. right now, and all are tasked with clearing the balance of their inventory by Jan. 31, 2009. If you’ve got the hots for an Ascender SUV or an i-290 / i-370 pickup, now would be a great time to take a stroll over to your Isuzu dealer (and don’t forget to let them know Autoblog told you about the rebates).

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

CONFIRMED: Isuzu abandoning U.S. market

Filed under: Isuzu

Isuzu has officially announced that it’s leaving the U.S. market and discontinuing sales of its i-Series pickup and Ascender SUV. Both vehicles are produced via a joint venture with General Motors, the i-Series being based on the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon pickups and the Ascender being a rebadged version of the Chevy Trailblazer. Reuters reports that it will cost Isuzu some $37 million to bug out, mostly in dealer buyouts and other move-related costs. Though the Japanese automaker will not be selling vehicles in the States, it will continue to provide parts for service. Its reason for leaving is basically that GM has no plans to replace the Colorado/Canyon and Trailblazer with models that Isuzu could rebadge, and the automaker has no plans to develop its own new models for North America.

Isuzu’s sales have been extremely weak in the U.S. these past few years. Last year it sold just 7,906 units, down from 15,751 units in 2006. We can’t say that we’re crushed that Isuzu is leaving, although we do remember a time when Isuzu sold more than just trucks, back when the brand’s image was shaped by a guy named Isuzu Joe (see commercial after jump). Remember the Impulse, Lotus-tuned Stylus (the last car sold by Isuzu in the U.S. from 1990 - 1993, and one we wouldn’t mind owning ourselves), the wild VehiCROSS and sharply styled Axiom? Yes, we can remember better times for Isuzu in the U.S., but recent bad times have led the automaker to this decision. Farewell, Isuzu! Read Isuzu’s official press release after the jump.

[Source: Reuters via Pickuptruck.com]

Continue reading CONFIRMED: Isuzu abandoning U.S. market

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Isuzu plans Alabama truck plant

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Plants/Manufacturing, Commercial Trucks, Isuzu

When the fruity people at Del Monte closed their Pinson Valley distribution center in Alabama, they were left with 300k square-feet worth of warehouse space and a lot of unsold canned pears. Being in the market for a manufacturing center, Isuzu decided to pick up the facility with the intention of investing several million bucks to turn the warehouse into their newest North American commercial truck plant.

Over the next few years, 1,000 workers will be putting together medium- and full-size trucks using parts from outside sources. Isuzu hasn’t set a date for the retrofitting or production to begin.

One interesting tidbit from the article in al.com, was that Isuzu may decide to build a smaller commercial truck for the U.S. market and has plans to introduce a four-ton truck into its lineup in 2009.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: ai.com]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Toyota to sell diesel hybrid by 2010 thanks to Isuzu

Filed under: Economy, Green, Tech, Isuzu, Toyota

AutoblogGreen has reason to be happy, having found evidence that Toyota’s recent purchase of a 5.9% stake in Isuzu will bear fruit in 2010 when the Japanese juggernaut marries its Synergy hybrid drive system with a diesel engine. Presumably such a hook up was made possible, or at least hastened, by the expertise in diesels that Isuzu brings to the table. Toyota knows its way around an oil burner too, but its Hino commercial truck division usually deals with diesels meant for trucks and buses.

Heck, even we have to admit that we’re excited for such a combo, as diesel engines excel in efficiency when cruising at highway speeds, much more so than a gasoline engine, which to this point has always been the electric motor’s dance partner in modern hybrids. JapanToday is reporting that a Toyota subcompact with this diesel hybrid drivetrain will be available as soon as 2010. Assuming we’re not all driving EVs by then, such a car should easily grab the mpg crown in the U.S.

[Source: AutoblogGreen, JapanToday]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Next Page »