Isuzu has officially announced that the automaker is going to leave the US market on January 31, 2009.
This news shouldn't be too surprising for anyone that has noticed the automaker's current lineup. Currently Isuzu only sells two vehicles, the i-Series pickup and Ascender SUV, both of which are rebadged GM vehicles. Since GM has no plans to replace the Colorado/ Canyon or Chevy Trailblazer, the two Isuzu badged vehicles are dead.
This news is sad for a company that once had a lot going for it. This is back when Isuzu still produced cars such as the Impulse and Stylus.
Here are a few of Isuzu's past vehicles to help you remember the automaker:
Isuzu Impulse
Isuzu Stylus
Isuzu Vehicross
Isuzu Rodeo
Isuzu Trooper
Isuzu Axiom
PRESS RELEASE:
Isuzu to End North American SUV Sales
Isuzu Motors Limited (President Susumu Hosoi; "Isuzu") has decided to end its North American SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) new vehicle sales business as of January 31. 2009.
This decision to end the SUV new vehicle sales business was made because there are no forecasts for continuation of the SUV business through introduction of a next-generation vehicle model or a Isuzu-made model to replace the GM-OEM vehicle currently being marketed (Ascender and i-series pick-up trucks). The SUV parts and service business will continue.
Currently, Isuzu's North American business comprises the three businesses of CV (trucks), SUV and PT (diesel engines and components).
In the CV business, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) carries out sales primarily of light duty vehicle as N Series (ELF in Japan). In the SUV business, Isuzu Motors America (ISZA) carries out sales of OEM vehicle from GM, and in the PT business, ISZA carries out sales of industrial diesel engines and components. With this decision to end SUV operations, Isuzu's North American business will focus on the CV and PT businesses.
Isuzu's North American SUV business began with the establishment of American Isuzu Motors Inc. in 1980 (AIMI later merged with ISZA), and in 1999 sales surpassed 100,000 units annually. In 2002, Isuzu introduced GM-OEM vehicle. However, by 2007, the total number of units sold fell to around 7,000 units for the year.
In the CV business, Isuzu last year implemented measures to strengthen its North American sales structure as part of its efforts to strengthen cab over truck sales globally, and aided in part by the expansion of CV units sold in North America, in the mid-term management plan that commences this year, Isuzu is targeting overseas truck sales of 350,000 units.
Comments (32)
Do they still sell cars outside of the US or just SUV's.
We had a Rodeo for a few years. If it wasn't for the damn intake manifold gasket blowing out every 20 to 30k, it was a decent vehicle. That gasket thing really sealed it for me though. That 3.2 V6 was a nice little motor though.
Seems like they just quit updating their vehicles. Let them die on the vine.
Posted by zippy | January 30, 2008 7:41 PM
Posted on January 30, 2008 19:41
no market share = screw it
Posted by seamonster | January 30, 2008 8:44 PM
Posted on January 30, 2008 20:44
Isuzu have a large market share in Africa. Selling mainly pickups and passenger / delivery vans.
Posted by crash | January 30, 2008 9:48 PM
Posted on January 30, 2008 21:48
"In 2002, Isuzu introduced GM-OEM vehicle."
That was the end for Isuzu.
Posted by Jim | January 30, 2008 10:11 PM
Posted on January 30, 2008 22:11
..and to further add insult to injury, the staggering number of Isuzu supporters currently rates at .5 posts.
Posted by Tony | January 31, 2008 1:39 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 01:39
What's Isuzu?
Posted by Sphere | January 31, 2008 2:53 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 02:53
Maybe if they actually made some vehicles...
Posted by Ed | January 31, 2008 3:54 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 03:54
I knew 2 people that had Troopers that always complained about what P.O.S.'s those trucks are. I don't think they'll be missed.
Posted by Pulsar1010 | January 31, 2008 4:07 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 04:07
isuzu are well known in thailand. they sell pickup trucks there and developed a diesel engine that travels over 1300 km in one full tank!(its proven). sad its not doing well in america...
Posted by aki_zz | January 31, 2008 5:06 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 05:06
according to the picture, they are leaving at high speed...
Posted by rene | January 31, 2008 6:12 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 06:12
I guess it's not completely relevant but:
Here in South africa they still sell them. A year or two ago a owner had a doulbecab with a chassis that bent. Isuzu treated him with such disrespect that he took it public. Obviously they sued but he won the case.
Wonderfull to see a company with a "screw the individual" mentality failing. (sad for the empoyees though)
Here's a link with the stroy I just found on google:
http://www.my4x4.co.za/Eng/criminal.html
Posted by Anon | January 31, 2008 7:20 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 07:20
I think the Geo Storm - an Isuzu made vehicle - was really neat. It sold well (IIRC) but was discontinued when Isuzu stopped making cars. I think it was a mistake on their part.
Posted by TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy | January 31, 2008 8:24 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 08:24
Wow, I forgot about that brand. They still sell cars here?
Posted by D | January 31, 2008 9:00 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 09:00
Well, they sell only trucks that they don't build themselves... and CAFE standards are getting tighter. So they have no economical vehicles that people want to offset the big fines they'll have to pay for not meeting CAFE... which means they'll have to charge more for their badge-engineered vehicles to compensate for the CAFE fines. Who the hell would pay a couple of thousand extra for the "prestige" of the Isuzu name compared to Chevy, GMC or even Hummer?
Isuzu has good diesel engine technology... too bad they didn't offer it years ago in the vehicles they sold to the public in North America. It might have improved their profit situation and gave the Isuzu name some meaningful uniqueness.
Higher fuel prices, tightening CAFE and offering trucks only without diesels were the last nails in the coffin for Isuzu.
I'm not surprised to see them pull out of North America. Their vehicles haven't brought anything that isn't already offered elsewhere for years now.
Posted by Peter | January 31, 2008 9:55 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 09:55
Isuzu did offer their 4 cyl diesel in some US products back in the 80's, and they were widely regarded as great engines. Remember the tagline: "Isuzu brings diesels to America...quietly". Too bad American over regulation makes it nearly impossible to produce a diesel engine that both satisfies emissions requirements and is affordable.
Posted by WS | January 31, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:05
I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an Izuzu vehicle that wasn't at least 5 years old.
Posted by Polynikes | January 31, 2008 10:13 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:13
The Impulse was a GREAT car. And the Rodeo is a great SUV. I currently have one and have had a few friends with them and they are a very solid and reliable vehicle. Like mentioned before the 3.2l V6 is a very strong motor matted with a very strong tranny. I'll take my 210hp V6 that gets over 20mpg any day over the V6 in most SUV's now that get 15.
Posted by crawlgsx | January 31, 2008 10:28 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:28
WS: Yes I know about the diesels that Isuzu had in the 1980s. But if it's true that it was "nearly impossible" to make a diesel engine that was affordable and pass emissions, how is it that VW was able to do it for almost every year since the 1980s in their *cars* (which have tighter standards)?
Hell, even Ford and GM had Diesels in their trucks the whole time and they didn't have a problem. If GM and Ford could do it, there is no reason why Isuzu couldn't do it.
If they had trouble figuring out how to pass emissions, all they needed to do is tear apart a VW diesel and see how they did it.
Posted by Peter | January 31, 2008 10:38 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:38
I have it on good authority that Isuzu is quiting the US market in order to design a 4 seater personal space ship. It will have a faster than light drive, customizable paint schemes, and Altezza tail lights.
Chicks will dig it, too. Oh yeah.
(RIP: Joe Isuzu. I'm gonna miss you.)
Posted by JoeIsuzu | January 31, 2008 10:39 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 10:39
Isuzu vehicles weren't that bad to me and my family. I had a 92 Stylus XS and that little bugger ran till over 2xx,xxx miles and I sold it with the original clutch and engine intact. My parents had an 86 Trooper that took over 25x,xxx miles and again was sold running strong. They still drive a tropper(01) it is at 170,xxx+. The only problem they had was with the AC compressor(it makes some noise - still works though).
If they only kept making the little cars - toyota and Honda lived on them and continue to do so. Oh well I guess.
But like others stated, they have been gone for a while anyway - re-badging GM cars killed Isuzu long ago.
Posted by TH | January 31, 2008 11:22 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 11:22
"according to the picture, they are leaving at high speed..."
LOL
Posted by Kell | January 31, 2008 12:38 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 12:38
The stake through Isuzu's heart that no one seems to remember is the infamous Consumer Reports "review" back in the mid-90s that rated the Isuzu Trooper as "Not Acceptable" because of rollover tendencies. Even though Isuzu sued and almost got punitive damages from CR, the damage was done. I remember people that had leased Troopers got absurdly cheap buyout deals at the end of their lease because Troopers' values had dropped so far below the residual value solely due to the CR "test".
Posted by BigWill | January 31, 2008 1:12 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 13:12
who cares
Posted by dennisil | January 31, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 13:46
Point to note.
Who builds the Duramax diesel?
Isuzu
Posted by WR | January 31, 2008 1:53 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 13:53
It is sad that Isuzu is going the way of the wind. But I can attest that they made a decent little car back in the day. I had a Chevy Spectrum (Isuzu I-Mark) which went for 200,000+ miles. It had nice interior (for its time) and was very fuel efficient.
CR also ragged on Suzuki for their little SUV so it wouldn't surprise me that CR purposefully set them up to fail. Back then people did not know you could not drive a SUV like a little car. They didn't know the center of gravity was higher...
In the end, Isuzu doomed themselves by not designing and product their own cars and trucks....
Posted by Andrew | January 31, 2008 2:40 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 14:40
My wife drives an 01 Rodeo with the 3.2 and it's pretty nice. Despite some minor quirks it runs great. It is built on a real frame, and so rides accordingly. But with that same token, I think it could take some damage in a crash and still come out.
I'm kind of sad to see them go, but in the end, I can understand why it happened. The car based SUV's took off around 2000, and that sealed Isuzu's fate. It's a very utilitarian vehicle, and that's why I like it.
Posted by Brian | January 31, 2008 4:29 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 16:29
Good riddance, all Isuzu ever did for the US market was bring us some diesel technology.
Glad to see these ugly, poorly designed-by-general-motors-and-therefor-not-Isuzu's-fault cars finally leave.
NOW BRING ME A DECENT FOCUS!
Posted by Allen | January 31, 2008 5:24 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 17:24
Back in the late '80's earle '90's, Isuzu had the ultimate sleeper 4 x 4 pickup. At the time the pickup could be outfitted w/ 31" tires as an option, had a great 4 cylinder motor ( or the dog GM 2.8 liter 6 cylinder that made the same horsepower as the four but more torque...gotta love early emissions standards)and the largest extended cab and my friends and I lusted after it. IMO better styling than the Nissans/Toyota's of the day. However, that great 4 cylinder motor would warp its head at the 100k mark like almost all other Isuzu 4 cylinder trucks and the Nissan/Toyota pickups would barrel along easily at 200k. By the mid nineties, the quality gap was so large , that I do not think any of my friends gave a passing glance at them. Isuzu was a victim of not capitalizing on the momentum of the SUV craze they essentailly started and limited themselves to just making trucks and not passenger cars. They have been in life support for years. Swim fast or die.
Posted by longdxcommuter | January 31, 2008 5:36 PM
Posted on January 31, 2008 17:36
Is this really worth a "breaking" news. I mean, just about anyone saw this coming. They haven't made anything impressive in years in the U.S. market. Everything else they made was nothing more then a clone version of Honda or GM products.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | February 1, 2008 4:25 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 04:25
So much the better, cars are hideous.
Posted by paul | February 1, 2008 7:40 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 07:40
Hey Peter:
I was referring to the fact that diesel regulation requiements have expanded greatly since the 80's. It's now very difficult for any car company (including VW) to produce a diesel that is affordable for the mass market. Check the news once in a while: VW is not offering diesels in the US market this year because their new diesel is not ready.
Posted by WS | February 1, 2008 9:09 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 09:09
Like the post above Isuzu was the major influence for the Duramax Diesel that GM is using. When GM finally admitted they couldn't build a good diesel they turned to Isuzu.
But I imagine that is part of Isuzu's large truck devision.
Posted by Tom T | February 2, 2008 8:12 PM
Posted on February 2, 2008 20:12