Isuzu

, () is a Japanese caur, commercial vehicle an hivy truck manufacturin company, heidquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the warld's lairgest manufacturer o medium tae hivy duty trucks. It haes assembly an manufacturin plants in the Japanese ceety o Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures Tochigi an Hokkaidō. Isuzu is famous for producin commercial vehicles an diesel ingines. Bi 2009, Isuzu haed produced ower 21 million diesel ingines, which can be foond in vehicles aw ower the warld. Isuzu diesel ingines are uised bi Renault, Opel an General Motors.

In maist o Asie, Africae, an Europe, Isuzu is maistly kent for trucks o aw sizes, efter Isuzu sma automobile sales drastically plummetit an Isuzu haed tae drop aw sales o sedans an compact caurs in the late 1990s. In the Unitit States, Isuzu haes ceased sellin passenger vehicles. Isuzu as a corporation haes aaways been primarily a manufacturer o sma tae medium compact automobiles an commercial trucks o sizes medium duty an lairger, but mercats aroond the warld show different needs. Isuzu haes a contract wi Budget Truck Rental tae manufacture thair rental trucks. This contract is an aa shared wi Ford, GMC, an Navistar International.

On November 7, 2006, Toyota acquired 5.9% o Isuzu, makin them the third lairgest sharehaulder ahint ITOCHU an Mitsubishi Corporation.

## History
* 1916 - Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding an Engineering Co., Ltd. an Tokyo Gas an Electric Industrial Co. cooperatively plan tae big automobiles.
* 1918 - A technical cooperation wi Wolseley Motor Company is initiatit. In 1922 the first Wolseley model A-9 caur is domestically produced. The CP truck follaes twa years later.
* 1933 - Ishikawajima Automotive Works merges wi DAT Automobile Manufacturing an chynges its name tae Automobile Industries Co., Ltd.
* 1934 - A meetin wi the Meenistry o Tred an Industry results in the renamin o the *truck* tae **Isuzu**, efter the Isuzu River. The wird translatit intae Inglis means "fifty bells".
* 1949 - Isuzu is adoptit as the *company name*.
* 1953 - Wi technical assistance o Rootes Group the Hillman Minx passenger caur is produced.
* 1971 - A caipital agreement wi General Motors is signed.
* 1972 - The Chevrolet LUV becomes the first Isuzu-biggit vehicle tae be sauld in the Unitit States. A decade later, it is replaced bi a domestic vehicle, the Chevrolet S-10.
* 1973 - Isuzu introduces the Gemini, which is co-produced wi General Motors. It is sauld in the Unitit States as Buick's Opel bi Isuzu, an in Australie as the Holden Gemini.
* 1981 - Isuzu-branded consumer an commercial vehicles are successfully exportit tae the Unitit States. The Isuzu P'Up is the first model sauld tae consumers as an Isuzu, insteid o a Chevrolet or Buick.
* 1987 - SIA (Subaru-Isuzu Automotive) is establisht as a jynt ventur wi Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company o Subaru).  Shortly thereefter, the Lafayette, Indiana plant becomes operational.
* 1993 - Isuzu ceases tae export the Stylus (Geo Spectrum), its last caurs in Americae, efter endin the Impulse (Geo Storm) the year afore.
* 1994 - Isuzu annoonces new vehicle exchynge program wi Honda, providin Honda wi the Isuzu Rodeo (tae be sauld as the Honda Passport) an Isuzu Trooper (tae be sauld as the Acura SLX) an providin Isuzu wi the Honda Odyssey (tae be sauld as the Isuzu Oasis).  This haes the effect o addin twa SUVs tae Honda's lineup an a minivan tae Isuzu's lineup.
* 1996 - Isuzu's sales peak in the Unitit States. The Isuzu Hombre pickup wis introduced.
* 1998 - General Motors an Isuzu form DMAX, a jynt ventur tae produce diesel ingines.  Isuzu resurrects the belovit Amigo.  The uniquely styled VehiCROSS concept is unveiled.
* 1999 - GM raises its stake in Isuzu tae 49%, effectively gainin control o the company.  GM quickly follaes this up wi the appointment o an American GM executive tae heid Isuzu's North American Operations.  This is the first time a non-Japanese executive haes iver held sic a heich poseetion at Isuzu.  The U.S. introduction o the production version o the heraldit VehiCROSS is met wi mixed reviews, as its hie pricetag, unique stylin an twa-door configuration daena seem tae meet wi mercat demands.
* 2000 - Concept convertible version o the VehiCROSS appears in the movie Mission to Mars.
* 2001 - Joe Isuzu, the immensely popular pitchman wi implausible claims, is hired ance again tae promote the new Axiom. Isuzu sales begin tae slide due tae the agin o the Rodeo an Trooper, an poor management & lack o assistance frae GM.  Isuzu chynges the name o the 2-door Amigo convertible tae Rodeo Sport in an attempt tae associate it wi the better sellin 4-door Rodeo. Movie Spy kids features Isuzu Axiom an Trooper.
* Early 2002 - Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) buys Isuzu's share o Lafayette, Indiana plant. Subaru Isuzu Automotive (SIA) becomes Subaru of Indiana Automotive.  Efter 8 years o hivy Honda Passport sales an licht Isuzu Oasis sales, Honda an Isuzu cooperatively end thair vehicle exchynge agreement.  The Oasis is dropped, an Honda replaces the Passport wi the Pilot. An aa, it wis Isuzu's last year for passenger vehicles in Canadae, as Isuzus in Canadae war maistly sauld at Saturn-Saab dealerships.
* Late 2002 - Isuzu begins the re-purchase o its stock frae shareholders, primarily General Motors.  Isuzu reduces GM's 49% share tae 12% as pairt o this comprehensive recaipitalization plan.  As pairt o this reorganization, GM gains full control o DMAX an Isuzu Motors Polska, as well as awnership o aw diesel ingine designs frae Isuzu. Isuzu drops the venerable Trooper frae the North American lineup.
* 2003 - The Rodeo Sport is discontinued.
* Julie 2004 - Production o the Rodeo an Axiom cease. Sales in North Americae slow tae juist 27,188, wi the discontinued Rodeo an Axiom makin up 71% o that tot.  The nummer o Isuzu dealerships in the U.S. begins a rapid decline.
* 2005 - Isuzu dealers in the Unitit States hae ae 2 models: the Ascender an the i-series pickup truck.  The i-series is a rebadged Chevrolet Colorado, the Ascender is a re-badged GMC Envoy.  At this pynt, Isuzu in the Unitit States is primarily a distributor o medium duty trucks sic as the NPR series. Thir vehicles are soorced baith frae Japan an U.S. plants in Janesville, Wisconsin an Flint, Michigan. Isuzu haes 290 licht-vehicle dealers in the U.S. as o August 2006, an sells an average o juist twa Ascenders per dealer per month. Plans tae introduce a new Thai-biggit SUV, expectit tae be addit for 2007, are shelved; Isuzu Motors Leemitit believes that a new SUV wad be too risky an proceeds wi the launch o the i-series trucks. Rumors o Isuzu's athdrawal frae the U.S. mercat are rampant. Despite extremely law sales figures o 12,177 passenger vehicles for 2005 (wi leftower Axiom an Rodeos makin up 30% o this), Isuzu Motors Americae annoonces its first profit in years, mainly due tae restructurin cuts.
* 2006 - Production o the 7-passenger Ascender ends in Februar wi the closure of GM's Oklahoma City Assembly plant, leavin Isuzu wi the 5-passenger Ascender, biggit in Moraine, Ohio an the law-sellin i-Series as its ae retail products. The company sauld juist 1,504 vehicles in North Americae in the first twa month o 2006. Isuzu finally purchases its remainin shares frae GM, but claims the companies will continue thair current relationship. Thare is no wird as o Aprile 12, 2006 on the effect this will hae on DMAX operations.
* Juin 2006 - Isuzu an GM Agree tae establish Jynt Ventur cawed "LCV Platform Engineering Corporation (LPEC)" tae develop a new pickup.  Isuzu says it will uise its ingineerin expertise tae develop the pickup an GM will develop derivatives based on the integratit platform.
* November 2006 - Toyota purchases 5.9% o Isuzu an the twa companies agree tae study possible business collaboration focusin on the auries o R&D an production o diesel ingines, relatit emissions-control, an ither environmental technologies.
* Januar 2007 - Isuzu, alang wi General Motors Companies, release an update tae the LCV range, wi a 3.0 litre common rail diesel motor, wi far mair torque an pouer tae its predecessor
* August 2007 - Isuzu an Toyota agree tae develop a 1.6-liter diesel ingine for uise in Toyota vehicles sauld in European mercats. Details o development, production an supply o the diesel ingine, are still unner discussion, but in principle, Isuzu will play the leadin role. Production is scheduled tae begin aroond 2012.
* Januar 30, 2008 - Isuzu annoonces complete athdrawal frae the US mercatt, effective Januar 31, 2009. It will continue tae provide support an pairts. The decision wis mainly affectit b slowin sales. Isuzu haed been experiencing a slow decline syne the late 1990s. In less nor 10 years, thay haed gone frae sellin a complete line o cairs, trucks, an SUVs, intae bein a specialised SUV maker, an finally sellin ae a pair o rebadged, General Motors Trucks.  Thay will continue tae sell commercial vehicles in the U.S.
* Januar 29, 2009 - Isuzu an General Motors annoonce that thay are in talks tae transfer the operation o the medium-duty truck production line in Flint, Michigan tae Isuzu for a five-year period. In Juin, housomeivver, GM annoonced that thir talks failed tae reach an agreement, an GM ceased production o the Chevrolet Kodiak an GMC Topkick vehicles on Julie 31, 2009.

## Important caur, bus an licht truck models

### Passenger vehicle an SUVs
* 1963–1973, Bellett sedan (PR20) an 2 door GT (PR90 & PR91)
* 1967-1983, Isuzu Florian
* 1968-1981, 117 Coupe
* 1974–2000, Gemini/I-Mark/Stylus sedan
* 1983–1992, Piazza/Impulse/Storm hatchback
* 1983–2002, Aska sedan
* 1983–2002, Trooper midsize SUV
* 1983–1995, Isuzu P'up an TF models Japan biggit frae 1987–1991, US biggit 1991-1995
* 1989-1994, Amigo compact SUV (First generation)
* 1991–2004, Rodeo sma SUV
* 1991–present, Panther, a van sauld in Indonesie, sauld as the Isuzu Hi-Lander / Crosswind in the Philippines, an aa sauld throughoot the ASEAN, an in Indie as the Chevrolet Tavera
* 1996-1999, Isuzu Oasis minivan, a rebadged Honda Odyssey
* 1996–2000, Isuzu Hombre pickup truck, a rebadged Chevrolet S10
* 1998-2003, Amigo/Rodeo Sport compact SUV (Seicont generation)
* 1999–2001, VehiCROSS halo SUV
* 2001–2004, Axiom midsize SUV
* 2002–2008, Ascender lairge SUV
* 2002–present, D-Max Pickup Truck, a tap sellin diesel sauld in the majority o Isuzu mercats (excludin North Americae)
* 2006–2008, i-280/i-350 pickup truck (a product o the co-developed D-Max platform Isuzu sells owerseas) later sauld as the I-290/I-370

### Commercial vehicles
* Elf - Licht Duty Truck (N-Series)
* Forward - Medium Duty Truck (F-Series)
* Giga - Hivy Duty Truck (C-Series, E-Series)
* Gala - Hivy Duty Bus
* Gala Mio - Medium Duty Bus
* Erga - Law Deck Hivy Duty Bus
* Erga-J - Hivy Duty Bus
* Erga Mio - Law Deck Medium Duty Bus
* Journey - Licht Duty Bus
* Journey-J - Medium Duty Bus
* H-Series - Hivy Duty Truck in Unitit States ae (Rebadged frae GMC Topkick an Chevrolet Kodiak)

### Race caurs
* 1969 R7, Group 7 racecaur
* 1970 Bellett R6, Group 6 racecaur

### Concept caurs
* 1970 Bellett MX1600
* 1983 COA
* 1985 COA-II
* 1987 COA III, AWD mid ingine coupe
* 1989 Costa
* 1989 MultiCROSS
* 1989 4200R
* 1991 Como, a pickup-style crossover wi a Lotus Formula Ane ingine (the name wis later uised for the rebadged Nissan Caravan E25 produced frae 2001)
* 1991 Nagisa
* 1993 XU-1
* 1993 VehiCROSS
* 1995 Deseo
* 1995 Aisance
* 1997 VX-2
* 1997 Isuzu Zaccar
* 1999 Isuzu VX-O<sub>2</sub>
* 1999 Revolutionary Vehicle-KAI
* 1999 ZXS
* 2000 Isuzu VX-4
* 2001 Zen
* 2001 GBX

### Buses (Philippines)
* LV314K
* LV314L
* CJM470
* CJM500
* PABFTR33PLB
* FTR33P
* LT132
* LT423
* LV123

### Buses (Thailand)
* CQA 650 A/T
* LV223S
* LV423R
* LV486R
* MT113QB

## Leavin U.S. market
Isuzu Motors Americae discontinued the sale o passenger vehicles in the Unitit States effective Januar 31, 2009. The company explained tae its dealers that it haed no been able tae secure replacements for the Isuzu Ascender an Isuzu i-Series that wad be commercially viable. Isuzu sauld 7,098 caurs in the year 2007.

Maist Isuzu U.S. passenger vehicle dealers became service an pairts dealers. Thay continue tae honour the warranties o Isuzu vehicles an still sell pairts an accessories.  Isuzu became the last automaker o the 2000s tae athdraw frae North American sales.

This action did no affect Isuzu's commercial vehicle or industrial diesel ingine operations in the Unitit States.

## See an aa

* List of automobile manufacturers
* General Motors Corporation
* Ghandhara Industries
* Leet o Isuzu ingines
* Isuzu Diesel Ingine

## References

8. Isuzu Commecial Truck Dealership

## Freemit airtins

* Isuzu website 
* ISUZU (Japanese)
* Isuzu (Indonesia) 
* ISUZU Worldwide
* Isuzu Philippines Corporation
* PlanetIsuzoo
* Isuzu Performance
* Isuzu Motor Sports
* Enthusiast website