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* [[1972]] - The [[Chevrolet LUV]] becomes the first Isuzu-built vehicle to be sold in the United States. A decade later, it is replaced by a domestic vehicle, the [[Chevrolet S-10]].
* [[1972]] - The [[Chevrolet LUV]] becomes the first Isuzu-built vehicle to be sold in the United States. A decade later, it is replaced by a domestic vehicle, the [[Chevrolet S-10]].
* [[1973]] - Isuzu introduces the Gemini, which is co-produced with General Motors.
* [[1973]] - Isuzu introduces the Gemini, which is co-produced with General Motors.
* [[1981]] - Isuzu-branded consumer and commercial vehicles are successfully exported to the United States. The [[Isuzu Pup]] is the first model sold to consumers.
* [[1981]] - Isuzu-branded consumer and commercial vehicles are successfully exported to the United States. The [[Isuzu Pup]] is the first model sold to consumers as an Isuzu, instead of a Chevrolet.
* [[1987]] - The joint venture [[Subaru Isuzu Automotive]] Inc. (SIA) is established together with Fuji Heavy Industries, owner of [[Subaru]].
* [[1987]] - SIA (Subaru-Isuzu Automotive) is established as a joint venture with Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company of Subaru). Shortly thereafter, the Lafayette, Indiana plant becomes operational.
* [[1993]] - Isuzu stops exporting the Stylus and related Geo Storm, its last cars in America, after ending the Impulse the year before.
* [[1993]] - Isuzu ceases to export the Stylus (Geo Storm), its last cars in America, after ending the Impulse the year before.
* [[1994]] - Isuzu announces new vehicle exchange program with Honda, providing Honda with Isuzu Rodeos (to be sold as Honda Passports) and Isuzu with Honda Odysseys (to be sold as Isuzu Oasis's). This has the effect of adding an SUV to Honda's lineup and a minivan to Isuzu's lineup.
* [[1996]] - Isuzu's sales peak in the United States. [[Joe Isuzu]] is popular pitchman with implausible claims, was also hired for the Axiom.
* [[1996]] - Isuzu's sales peak in the United States. [[Joe Isuzu]] is popular pitchman with implausible claims, is hired once again to promote the new Axiom.
* [[1998]] - [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] and Isuzu form [[DMAX]], a joint venture to produce [[diesel]] engines.
* [[1998]] - [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] and Isuzu form [[DMAX]], a joint venture to produce [[diesel]] engines. Isuzu resurrects the beloved Amigo. The uniquely styled Vehicross concept is unveiled.
* [[1999]] - GM raises its stake in Isuzu to 49%, effectively gaining control of the company.
* [[1999]] - GM raises its stake in Isuzu to 49%, effectively gaining control of the company. Gm quickly follows this up with the appointment of an American GM executive to head Isuzu's North American Operations. This is the first time a non-Japanese has ever held such a high position at Isuzu. Isuzu's top executives in Japan are furious with GM. The introduction of the production version of the heralded Vehicross is met with mixed reviews, as its high pricetag and unique styling doesn't seem to meet with market demands.
* [[2001]] - Isuzu sales begin to slide as the [[Isuzu Rodeo|Rodeo]] and [[Isuzu Trooper|Trooper]] age. Movie [[Spy kids]] features Isuzu Axiom and Trooper.
* [[2002]] - Subaru buys Isuzu's share of US plant. Subaru Isuzu Automotive becomes [[Subaru of Indiana Automotive]].
* [[2000]] - Concept convertible version of the Vehicross appears in the movie [[Mission to Mars]].
* [[2001]] - Isuzu sales begin to slide due to the aging of the [[Isuzu Rodeo|Rodeo]] and [[Isuzu Trooper|Trooper]], and poor management & lack of assistance from GM. Isuzu changes the name of the 2 door Amigo convertible to Rodeo Sport in an attempt to associate it with the better selling 4 door Rodeo. Movie [[Spy kids]] features Isuzu Axiom and Trooper.
* [[August 14]], [[2002]] - General Motors reduces its 49% share in Isuzu to 12% as part of a comprehensive recapitalization of Isuzu. GM also takes full control of [[DMAX]] and [[Isuzu Motors Polska]], with Isuzu losing not just the factories but also ownership of all engine designs. The Trooper is dropped from the North American lineup.
* [[Early 2002]] - Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) buys Isuzu's share of Lafayette, Indiana plant. Subaru Isuzu Automotive (SIA) becomes [[Subaru of Indiana Automotive]]. After 8 years of heavy Honda Passport sales and light Isuzu Oasis sales, Honda and Isuzu cooperatively end their vehicle exchange agreement. The Oasis is dropped, and Honda replaces the Passport with the Pilot.
* [[2003]] - Isuzu sales were eliminated from the [[Canadian]] market. Canadian dealers mostly selling [[Saturn Corporation|Saturn]] and [[Saab]] cars drop Isuzu cars from the lineup.
* [[Late 2002]] - Fed up with GM's poor management of the company, Isuzu draws up a multi-year plan to both emancipate itself from General Motors & restructure the company at all levels. Shortly thereafter, Isuzu begins the re-purchase of its stock from shareholders, primarily General Motors. Isuzu reduces GM's 49% share to 12% as part of this comprehensive recapitalization plan. GM responds by seizing full control of [[DMAX]] and [[Isuzu Motors Polska]], taking not only the factories but also ownership of all engine designs from Isuzu. Isuzu is also forced to drop the venerable Trooper from the North American lineup.
* July [[2004]] - Production of the Rodeo and [[Isuzu Axiom|Axiom]], the last real Isuzus, stopped. Sales in North America slow to just 27,188, with the canceled Rodeo and Axiom making up 71% of that total.
* [[2003]] - Isuzu sales are eliminated from the [[Canadian]] market. Canadian dealers mostly selling [[Saturn Corporation|Saturn]] and [[Saab]] cars drop Isuzu SUVs from their showrooms. In addition, the Rodeo Sport is discontinued.
* [[2005]] - Isuzu dealers in the United States have only one model, the [[Isuzu Ascender|Ascender]] SUV, with the 2006 [[Isuzu i-Series|i-Series]] bringing that to two. At this point, Isuzu in the United States is primarily a distributor of medium duty trucks such as the NPR series. These vehicles are sourced both from Japan and U.S. plants in Janesville, WI and Flint, MI. The Ascender is a [[badge engineering|rebadged]] GM vehicle with mostly cosmetic differences from the [[GMC Envoy]]/[[Chevrolet TrailBlazer]]/[[Buick Rainier]]/and final version of the [[Oldsmobile Bravada]]. The i-series trucks are rebadged versions of the [[Chevrolet Colorado]]/[[GMC Canyon]] pickup trucks. Those trucks were jointly designed by GM's North American operations, GM do Brasil, and Isuzu; with Isuzu providing the [[chassis]] and GM providing the [[drivetrain]]. Isuzu has 290 dealers in the U.S. as of August 2006, and sells an average of just two Ascenders per dealer per month. Plans to introduce a new Thai-built [[Sport utility vehicle|SUV]], expected to be added for [[2007]], are shelved; American Isuzu explains that a new SUV would be too risky and proceeds with the launch of the i-series trucks. Rumors of Isuzu's withdrawal from the U.S. market are rampant. Despite extremely low sales figures of 12,177 passenger vehicles for 2005 (with leftover Axiom and Rodeos making up 30% of this), Isuzu North America announces its first profit-making in years, mainly due to restructuring cuts and continuing robust sales of commercial trucks.
* July [[2004]] - Production of the Rodeo and Axiom cease. Sales in North America slow to just 27,188, with the discontinued Rodeo and Axiom making up 71% of that total. The number of Isuzu dealerships in the US begins a rapid decline.
* [[2006]] - Production of the 7-passenger Ascender ends in February with the closure of GM's [[Oklahoma City Assembly]] plant, leaving Isuzu with the 5-passenger Ascender, built in [[Moraine, Ohio]], and the low-selling i-Series as its only retail products. The company sold just 1,504 vehicles in North America in the first two months of 2006. GM sells its remaining shares in Isuzu, but claims the companies will continue their current relationship. There is no word as of [[April 12]], [[2006]] on the effect this will have on [[DMAX]] USA operations.
* [[2005]] - Isuzu dealers in the United States have only 2 models: the Ascender and the i-series pickup truck. While the i-series is a genuine Isuzu product (known as the D-MAX outside the US), the Ascender is a re-badged Chevrolet Trailblazer. At this point, Isuzu in the United States is primarily a distributor of medium duty trucks such as the NPR series. These vehicles are sourced both from Japan and U.S. plants in Janesville, WI and Flint, MI. Isuzu has 290 dealers in the U.S. as of August 2006, and sells an average of just two Ascenders per dealer per month. Plans to introduce a new Thai-built [[Sport utility vehicle|SUV]], expected to be added for [[2007]], are shelved; American Isuzu believes that a new SUV would be too risky and proceeds with the launch of the i-series trucks. Rumors of Isuzu's withdrawal from the U.S. market are rampant. Despite extremely low sales figures of 12,177 passenger vehicles for 2005 (with leftover Axiom and Rodeos making up 30% of this), Isuzu North America announces its first profit-making in years, mainly due to restructuring cuts, continuing robust sales of commercial trucks, and a lack of GM control.
* [[2006]] - Production of the 7-passenger Ascender ends in February with the closure of GM's [[Oklahoma City Assembly]] plant, leaving Isuzu with the 5-passenger Ascender, built in [[Moraine, Ohio]], and the low-selling i-Series as its only retail products. The company sold just 1,504 vehicles in North America in the first two months of 2006. Isuzu finally purchases its remaining shares from GM, but claims the companies will continue their current relationship. There is no word as of [[April 12]], [[2006]] on the effect this will have on [[DMAX]] USA operations.
* June [[2006]] - Isuzu and GM Agree to establish Joint Venture called "LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC)" to develop a new pickup. Isuzu says it will use it's engineering expertise to develop the pickup and GM will develop derivatives based on the integrated platform.
* June [[2006]] - Isuzu and GM Agree to establish Joint Venture called "LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC)" to develop a new pickup. Isuzu says it will use it's engineering expertise to develop the pickup and GM will develop derivatives based on the integrated platform.
* November [[2006]] - Toyota purchases 5.9% of Isuzu and the two companies agree to study possible business collaboration focusing on the areas of R&D and production of diesel engines, related emissions-control, and other environmental technologies.
* November [[2006]] - Toyota purchases 5.9% of Isuzu and the two companies agree to study possible business collaboration focusing on the areas of R&D and production of diesel engines, related emissions-control, and other environmental technologies.
* January [[2007]] - Isuzu, along with General Motors Companies, release an update to the LCV range, with a 3.0 litre common rail diesel motor, with far more torque and power to its predecessor
* January [[2007]] - Isuzu, along with General Motors Companies, release an update to the LCV range, with a 3.0 litre common rail diesel motor, with far more torque and power to its predecessor
* August [[2007]] - Isuzu and Toyota agree to develop a 1.6-liter diesel engine for use in Toyota vehicles sold in European markets. Details of development, production and supply of the diesel engine, are still under discussion, but in principle, Isuzu will play the leading role. Production is scheduled to begin around 2012.
* August [[2007]] - Isuzu and Toyota agree to develop a 1.6-liter diesel engine for use in Toyota vehicles sold in European markets. Details of development, production and supply of the diesel engine, are still under discussion, but in principle, Isuzu will play the leading role. Production is scheduled to begin around 2012.
* January 30, [[2008]] - Isuzu announces withdrawal from the US market<ref>{{cite web|title=Isuzu quitting U.S. car market|publisher=''Los Angeles Times''|url=http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-isuzu31jan31,0,168226.story|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>. It will continue to provide support and parts . The decision was mainly affected by both slowing sales, and GM's decision to replace the [[GMC Canyon]]/[[Chevrolet Colorado]] and the [[Chevrolet Trailblazer]] with newer models that would not be able to be rebadged and sold as Isuzus. Isuzu had been experiencing a slow decline since the late 1990s. In less than 10 years, they had gone from selling a complete line of cars, trucks, and SUVs, into being a specialized SUV maker, and finally selling only a pair of rebadged, General Motors Trucks. <ref>[http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/30/confirmed-isuzu-abandoning-u-s-market/ CONFIRMED: Isuzu abandoning U.S. market - Autoblog<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> They will continue to sell commercial vehicles in the U.S. <ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/22920144/for/cnbc Isuzu executive says competition helped push it out of North American market - MSNBC Wire Services - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* January 30, [[2008]] - Isuzu announces complete withdrawal from the US market<ref>{{cite web|title=Isuzu quitting U.S. car market|publisher=''Los Angeles Times''|url=http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-isuzu31jan31,0,168226.story|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>. It will continue to provide support and parts . The decision is mainly affected by extremely low sales, and Isuzu's discontinuation of the Trailblazer/i-series exchange program. GM, for the first time in over 35 years, finds itself with the lack of an Isuzu pickup to re-badge as a GM product. As such, GM is currently attempting to design their own small pickup for the future, no longer relying on Isuzu for engines and design. Isuzu had been experiencing a slow decline since the late 1990s. In less than 10 years, Isuzu went from selling a complete line of cars, trucks, and SUVs, into being a specialized SUV-only manufacturer, and eventually only a memory. <ref>[http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/30/confirmed-isuzu-abandoning-u-s-market/ CONFIRMED: Isuzu abandoning U.S. market - Autoblog<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> They will continue to sell commercial vehicles in the U.S. <ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/22920144/for/cnbc Isuzu executive says competition helped push it out of North American market - MSNBC Wire Services - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Important car, bus and light truck models==
==Important car, bus and light truck models==

Revision as of 23:13, 2 March 2008

Isuzu Motors Ltd. or Isuzu Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha
Company typePublic TYO: 7202
FoundedApril, 1937
HeadquartersJapan Tokyo, Japan
ProductsCommercial vehicles, Diesel engines
Number of employees
8,111 (2017) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.isuzu.co.jp
This article is about a truck manufacturer. For the fictional character, see Isuzu Sohma.

Isuzu Motors Ltd. (いすゞ自動車株式会社, Isuzu Jidōsha Kabushiki-kaisha), (TYO: 7202) is a Japanese commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturer company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu was the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures Tochigi and Hokkaidō. Isuzu is famous for producing commercial vehicles and diesel engines - it produced 16 million diesel engines in 2003 alone, which can be found in vehicles all over the world.

In most of Asia, Africa, and Europe, Isuzu is mostly known for trucks of all sizes, after Isuzu small automobile sales drastically plummeted and Isuzu had to drop all sales of sedans and compact cars in the late 1990's. In the United States, Isuzu is mostly known for manufacturing rebadged models of Chevrolet's Colorado as the Isuzu i-290 and the Quad Cab i-370, and also GMC's Envoy has been rebadged as the Isuzu Ascender. These are currently the only passenger vehicles Isuzu markets in the United States. Isuzu as a corporation has always been primarily a manufacturer of small to medium compact automobiles and commercial trucks of sizes medium duty and larger, but markets around the world show different needs. Isuzu has a contract with Budget Truck Rental to manufacture their rental trucks. This contract is also shared with Ford, GMC, and Navistar International. [1]

On November 7, 2006, Toyota acquired 5.9% of Isuzu, making them the third largest shareholder behind ITOCHU and Mitsubishi Corporation.

History

  • 1916 - Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. cooperatively plan to build automobiles.
  • 1918 - A technical cooperation with Wolseley Motor Company (UK) is initiated. In 1922 the first Wolseley model A-9 car is domestically produced. The CP truck follows two years later.
  • 1933 - Ishikawajima Automotive Works merges with DAT Automobile Manufacturing and changes its name to Automobile Industries Co., Ltd.
  • 1934 - A meeting with the Ministry of Trade and Industry results in the renaming of the truck to Isuzu, after the Isuzu River.
  • 1949 - Isuzu is adopted as company name.
  • 1953 - With technical assistance of Rootes (UK) the Hillman Minx passenger car is produced.
  • 1971 - A capital agreement with General Motors is signed.
  • 1972 - The Chevrolet LUV becomes the first Isuzu-built vehicle to be sold in the United States. A decade later, it is replaced by a domestic vehicle, the Chevrolet S-10.
  • 1973 - Isuzu introduces the Gemini, which is co-produced with General Motors.
  • 1981 - Isuzu-branded consumer and commercial vehicles are successfully exported to the United States. The Isuzu Pup is the first model sold to consumers as an Isuzu, instead of a Chevrolet.
  • 1987 - SIA (Subaru-Isuzu Automotive) is established as a joint venture with Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company of Subaru). Shortly thereafter, the Lafayette, Indiana plant becomes operational.
  • 1993 - Isuzu ceases to export the Stylus (Geo Storm), its last cars in America, after ending the Impulse the year before.
  • 1994 - Isuzu announces new vehicle exchange program with Honda, providing Honda with Isuzu Rodeos (to be sold as Honda Passports) and Isuzu with Honda Odysseys (to be sold as Isuzu Oasis's). This has the effect of adding an SUV to Honda's lineup and a minivan to Isuzu's lineup.
  • 1996 - Isuzu's sales peak in the United States. Joe Isuzu is popular pitchman with implausible claims, is hired once again to promote the new Axiom.
  • 1998 - General Motors and Isuzu form DMAX, a joint venture to produce diesel engines. Isuzu resurrects the beloved Amigo. The uniquely styled Vehicross concept is unveiled.
  • 1999 - GM raises its stake in Isuzu to 49%, effectively gaining control of the company. Gm quickly follows this up with the appointment of an American GM executive to head Isuzu's North American Operations. This is the first time a non-Japanese has ever held such a high position at Isuzu. Isuzu's top executives in Japan are furious with GM. The introduction of the production version of the heralded Vehicross is met with mixed reviews, as its high pricetag and unique styling doesn't seem to meet with market demands.
  • 2000 - Concept convertible version of the Vehicross appears in the movie Mission to Mars.
  • 2001 - Isuzu sales begin to slide due to the aging of the Rodeo and Trooper, and poor management & lack of assistance from GM. Isuzu changes the name of the 2 door Amigo convertible to Rodeo Sport in an attempt to associate it with the better selling 4 door Rodeo. Movie Spy kids features Isuzu Axiom and Trooper.
  • Early 2002 - Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) buys Isuzu's share of Lafayette, Indiana plant. Subaru Isuzu Automotive (SIA) becomes Subaru of Indiana Automotive. After 8 years of heavy Honda Passport sales and light Isuzu Oasis sales, Honda and Isuzu cooperatively end their vehicle exchange agreement. The Oasis is dropped, and Honda replaces the Passport with the Pilot.
  • Late 2002 - Fed up with GM's poor management of the company, Isuzu draws up a multi-year plan to both emancipate itself from General Motors & restructure the company at all levels. Shortly thereafter, Isuzu begins the re-purchase of its stock from shareholders, primarily General Motors. Isuzu reduces GM's 49% share to 12% as part of this comprehensive recapitalization plan. GM responds by seizing full control of DMAX and Isuzu Motors Polska, taking not only the factories but also ownership of all engine designs from Isuzu. Isuzu is also forced to drop the venerable Trooper from the North American lineup.
  • 2003 - Isuzu sales are eliminated from the Canadian market. Canadian dealers mostly selling Saturn and Saab cars drop Isuzu SUVs from their showrooms. In addition, the Rodeo Sport is discontinued.
  • July 2004 - Production of the Rodeo and Axiom cease. Sales in North America slow to just 27,188, with the discontinued Rodeo and Axiom making up 71% of that total. The number of Isuzu dealerships in the US begins a rapid decline.
  • 2005 - Isuzu dealers in the United States have only 2 models: the Ascender and the i-series pickup truck. While the i-series is a genuine Isuzu product (known as the D-MAX outside the US), the Ascender is a re-badged Chevrolet Trailblazer. At this point, Isuzu in the United States is primarily a distributor of medium duty trucks such as the NPR series. These vehicles are sourced both from Japan and U.S. plants in Janesville, WI and Flint, MI. Isuzu has 290 dealers in the U.S. as of August 2006, and sells an average of just two Ascenders per dealer per month. Plans to introduce a new Thai-built SUV, expected to be added for 2007, are shelved; American Isuzu believes that a new SUV would be too risky and proceeds with the launch of the i-series trucks. Rumors of Isuzu's withdrawal from the U.S. market are rampant. Despite extremely low sales figures of 12,177 passenger vehicles for 2005 (with leftover Axiom and Rodeos making up 30% of this), Isuzu North America announces its first profit-making in years, mainly due to restructuring cuts, continuing robust sales of commercial trucks, and a lack of GM control.
  • 2006 - Production of the 7-passenger Ascender ends in February with the closure of GM's Oklahoma City Assembly plant, leaving Isuzu with the 5-passenger Ascender, built in Moraine, Ohio, and the low-selling i-Series as its only retail products. The company sold just 1,504 vehicles in North America in the first two months of 2006. Isuzu finally purchases its remaining shares from GM, but claims the companies will continue their current relationship. There is no word as of April 12, 2006 on the effect this will have on DMAX USA operations.
  • June 2006 - Isuzu and GM Agree to establish Joint Venture called "LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC)" to develop a new pickup. Isuzu says it will use it's engineering expertise to develop the pickup and GM will develop derivatives based on the integrated platform.
  • November 2006 - Toyota purchases 5.9% of Isuzu and the two companies agree to study possible business collaboration focusing on the areas of R&D and production of diesel engines, related emissions-control, and other environmental technologies.
  • January 2007 - Isuzu, along with General Motors Companies, release an update to the LCV range, with a 3.0 litre common rail diesel motor, with far more torque and power to its predecessor
  • August 2007 - Isuzu and Toyota agree to develop a 1.6-liter diesel engine for use in Toyota vehicles sold in European markets. Details of development, production and supply of the diesel engine, are still under discussion, but in principle, Isuzu will play the leading role. Production is scheduled to begin around 2012.
  • January 30, 2008 - Isuzu announces complete withdrawal from the US market[2]. It will continue to provide support and parts . The decision is mainly affected by extremely low sales, and Isuzu's discontinuation of the Trailblazer/i-series exchange program. GM, for the first time in over 35 years, finds itself with the lack of an Isuzu pickup to re-badge as a GM product. As such, GM is currently attempting to design their own small pickup for the future, no longer relying on Isuzu for engines and design. Isuzu had been experiencing a slow decline since the late 1990s. In less than 10 years, Isuzu went from selling a complete line of cars, trucks, and SUVs, into being a specialized SUV-only manufacturer, and eventually only a memory. [3] They will continue to sell commercial vehicles in the U.S. [4]

Important car, bus and light truck models

Isuzu LT132L on a Hong Kong motorway
File:ISUZU LV486R.JPG
Isuzu LV486R CNG City Bus in Bangkok with the CNG-MPI Engine
Isuzu Gemini with European (Maltese) registration plates
Isuzu NHR (Elf) light truck
Isuzu CXZ (Giga) heavy truck
Isuzu Journey operated by Citibus (New Zealand)
2005 Isuzu D-max Spacecab Hi-lander found at Phetchaburi, Thailand

Passenger vehicle & SUVs

Commercial vehicles

Concept cars

See also

References

  1. ^ Company Info - Budget Truck Rental
  2. ^ "Isuzu quitting U.S. car market". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ CONFIRMED: Isuzu abandoning U.S. market - Autoblog
  4. ^ Isuzu executive says competition helped push it out of North American market - MSNBC Wire Services - MSNBC.com