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.

Contents

1 History 2 Important car models 3 Related topics 4 External link

History

In 1916 Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. cooperately plan to build automobiles. In 1918 a technical cooperation with Wolseley Motors U.K. is initiated. In 1922 the first Wolseley model A-9 car is domestically produced. The CP truck follows two years later. Ishikawajima Automotive Works merges with Dot Automobile Manufacturing in 1933 and changes its name to Automobile Industries Co., Ltd..

A meeting with the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1934 results in the renaming of the truck to Isuzu, after the Isuzu river. Isuzu is not adopted as company name until 1949. In 1953 with technical assistance of Rootes (U.K.) the Hillman Minx passenger car is produced.

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

From 1981 commercial vehicles are successfully exported to the United States. 1987 the joint venture Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc. (SIA) is established together with Fuji Heavy Industries (owner of Subaru).

General Motors raises its stake in Isuzu to 49% in 1999, but reduced it again to 12% in 2003.

In 2002 the Subaru-Isuzu joint-venture is dissolved.

In 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
• Ascender large SUV
• Aska Sedan
• Axiom small SUV (discontinued 2004)
• Isuzu Bellett Sedan (PR20) and 2 door GT (PR90 & PR91) (1963 to 1973)
• Gemini/I-Mark/Stylus Sedan
• Isuzu Hombre pickup truck
• Piazza/Impluse Coupe
• Rodeo small SUV (discontinued 2004)
• Trooper large SUV
• VehiCROSS halo SUV

Related topics

• List of automobile manufacturers
• General Motors
• Subaru

External link

• Isuzu USA (http://www.isuzu.com)
• Isuzu Motors Ltd. (English) (http://www.isuzu.co.jp/world/index.html)

fr:Isuzu ja:いすゞ自動車