Isuzu Jidōsha Kabushiki Kaisha (Isuzu Motors Ltd.,いすゞ自動車) is a Japanese automobile company, headquartered in Tokyo. It has constructions plants in Kawasaki, Fujisawa, Tochigi and Hokkaido. It is famous for producing commercial vehicles and diesel engines. Isuzu produced 16 million diesel engines in 2003 alone, which can be found in cars all over the world.

History

• 1916 - Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. cooperately 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 Dot 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. Isuzu is not adopted as company name until 1949.

• 1953 - With technical assistance of Rootes (U.K.) the Hillman Minx passenger car is produced.

• 1971 - A capital agreement with General Motors is signed and two years later the Gemini is introduced, which is coproduced with General Motors.

• 1972 - The Chevrolet LUV becomes the first Isuzu-built vehicle to be sold in the United States.

• 1981 - Isuzu-branded consumer and commercial vehicles are successfully exported to the United States. The Isuzu Pup is the first model sold to consumers.

• 1987 - The joint venture Subaru Isuzu Automotive Inc. (SIA) is established together with Fuji Heavy Industries (owner of Subaru).

• 1996 - Isuzu sales peak in the United States.

• 1998 - General Motors and Isuzu form DMAX, a joint venture to produce Diesel engines.

• 1999 - GM raises its stake in Isuzu to 49%, effectively gaining control of the company.

• 2001 - Isuzu sales begin to slide as the Rodeo and Trooper age.

• 2002 - Subaru buys Isuzu's share and SIA becomes Subaru of Indiana Automotive

• August 14, 2002 - General Motors sells its 49% share in Isuzu but quickly turns around to buy 12% back. 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.

• July, 2004 - Production of the Rodeo and Axiom stopped. For the 2005 and 2006 model years, Isuzu dealers in the United States will have only two models, the Ascender and a rebadged GMC Canyon, to sell. The company has 360 dealers, and sells an average of just two Ascenders per dealer per month. A new SUV is expected to be added for 2007.

Important car models

• 117 Coupe
• 1963-1973 - Isuzu Bellett Sedan (PR20) and 2 door GT (PR90 & PR91)
• 1974-2000 - Gemini/I-Mark/Stylus Sedan
• Piazza /Impulse Coupe
• 1983-2002 - Aska Sedan
• 1996-2000 - Isuzu Hombre pickup truck
• 1999-2001 - VehiCROSS halo SUV
• -2004 - Rodeo small SUV
• -2004 - Axiom small SUV
• Trooper large SUV
• 2002+ - Ascender large SUV
• 2006+ - i-280/i-350 pickup truck

Related topics

• List of automobile manufacturers
• General Motors
• Subaru

External link

• Isuzu USA
• Isuzu Motors Ltd. (English)
• an Isuzu fanpage