Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

Isuzu Trucks targets India and Saudi Arabia in 2011

The Japanese auto maker Isuzu Motors Ltd. recently announced that to increase its presence in India’s booming market, it was going to enter into a joint venture for manufacturing  heavy-duty trucks in the country from April 2011.  The company also has plans for entering the Saudi Arabian market through setting up an assembly unit for trucks there.

Isuzu’s Plans for India

SML Isuzu Ltd., the Japanese truck maker’s joint venture in India with Swaraj Mazda Ltd. and Sumitomo, will manufacture 12-ton payload trucks.  (Three years ago, Mazda Motor Corp. had withdrawn from its partnership in Swaraj Mazda Ltd., but agreed to allow the use of the Mazda brand name for the new joint venture.)  The engines, transmissions and other components for assembling the trucks will be imported into the country from Japan.  Isuzu expects to achieve annual sales of about 1,000 trucks in India and plans to manufacture around 6000 small and mid-size buses a year by 2012.

Isuzu Trucks has invested Rs3 billion for the factories where the Isuzu heavy trucks and luxury buses will be assembled, and hopes to increase profits by 40% by 2011 through collaborations with other auto manufacturers and overseas sales.  In India, Isuzu Trucks provides engines to Ashok Leyland Ltd., Hindustan Motors Ltd., and Hero Group, the 2-wheel leader.

Isuzu’s Plans for Saudi Arabia

Isuzu Motors will soon be the first auto manufacturer from Japan to establish a production unit in Saudi Arabia.  As part of the strategy for accelerating operations in emerging markets, the company is going to set up a plant in Saudi Arabia next year, planning to produce around 500-600 medium-duty trucks in its very first year.  The order from the government of Pakistan to provide 300 trucks per year will increase the production at this plant.

Towards the close of 2012, Isuzu plans to commence the assembly of a medium-duty “F-Series” truck at the Saudi Arabia plant.  Starting with around 600 units, the annual production is eventually expected to reach 25,000.  In future, the factory will also produce light-duty and heavy-duty models.  Isuzu will export engines as well as other key components from Japan to the assembly plant in the Kingdom.

Till now, like other Japanese auto manufacturers, Isuzu Motors has catered to the Middle East market, a very important market for the company, by way of direct exports.  In the harsh Middle East desert terrains, drivers have been finding Isuzu light-duty trucks and pickups to be very reliable and having a long service life.  In 2010, it is estimated that Isuzu sold more than 32,000 trucks in the Middle East.  The new assembly line in Saudi Arabia will enable the company to serve this market more effectively.

Besides India and the Middle East, Isuzu is now focusing also on prospective high-growth markets such as China, and ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.  Currently, Isuzu vehicles enjoy huge popularity in the ASEAN nations of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.  Obviously, the Japanese truck manufacturer is taking the international markets route to propel its growth.

To our customers in Saudi Arabia, Philippines and Malaysia and other Middle Eastern countries – we will continue our support for exporting used Isuzu trucks and spare parts to your countries.

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Review of Isuzu Forward (F Series) Trucks

Medium duty trucks from Japanese truck maker Isuzu, also know as Isuzu Forward series or F Series have been the market leaders in their class for more than a decade.  Isuzu has over 40 new models to choose from in many configurations such as dump, wing, mixer to ambulance and crane trucks.  Isuzu Forward trucks are well known worldwide for their excellent performance, safety features, power, durability and maneuverability.  These trucks are available in 5 ton to 17 ton configurations.

There’s a generation gap between the Isuzu Forward Series and its competitors.  All Isuzu F Series trucks are fitted with revolutionary AMT system, which offers the economy and performance and of a manual transmission with all the merits of an automatic transmission.

Many of our regular customers who have import used Isuzu forward trucks from us are very happy because of the value they get for their money.  They like the comfortable and roomy driver cabin which won’t make them tired in spite of long journeys of up to 15 hours a day.  It rides very smooth -- thanks to the tapered leaf used in its front suspension and air ride or multi-leaf in its rear suspension.  All the engines in the Forward Series trucks are air to air inter-cooled and turbo charged.  And, with the 6 speed ZF gearbox the towing becomes effortless -- whether you have a towing truck or a crane truck.  Hill start Aid is also of a great help as it limits truck roll-back during take-off on hills under load conditions.

The Isuzu Forward series have a high maneuverability. These trucks can easily navigate through narrow streets and tight corners.  It has 6% more glass area on the wind screen offering excellent visibility to the driver to see out.  Isuzu Forward trucks are fitted with lots of safety features which are welcome by all drivers.  These features include a spacious comfortable interior, ABS brakes, easy to read instruments, driver’s SRS airbag, tilt/telescoping steering column  and a deluxe air suspension seat with adjustable lumbar support.

Most of the Isuzu Forward owners say that it the best truck for its size that they have ever driven.  To sum up the Isuzu Forward Series in 4 words :   Tough, Reliable, Safe and Comfortable.  Check the video to see how tough is an Isuzu Forward truck!