Isuzu Pulls Out..

[HarleyEarl]

Isuzu pulls out of 2006 North American Auto Show.

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000273060268/

Edited September 26, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[Croc]

...and with this they are pretty much leaving the U.S. Too bad. It always sucks when brands leave markets, but at least there will be less duplication with GMC... Check out ther website sometime. They only have 2 models (four if you count extended versions of each). Their Ascender is a clone of the GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, while the GMC Canyon is a clone of the Isuzu pickup. Seriously, I think the only differences might be that the Isuzu Ascender doesn't have the amber turn signal that the Envoy does... Edited September 25, 2005 by Croc

[Flybrian]

"First, they cancel Empty Nest, and now this? Damnit!"

[pow]

Whatever the hell happened to the Axiom? At least it was an actual Isuzu, and it couldn't be that much crappier than the Ascender. In fact, its interior was decent, the engine was great (direct ignition, VVT, 250 horsepower), and the styling was fresh. It came out in '02 and died in '04.

[Croc]

Whatever the hell happened to the Axiom? At least it was an actual Isuzu, and it couldn't be that much crappier than the Ascender. In fact, its interior was decent, the engine was great (direct ignition, VVT, 250 horsepower), and the styling was fresh. It came out in '02 and died in '04.

[post="19899"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

It was ugly, that's what happened to it.

[Bimmer325]

:lol: Anyway, I'd say this is the beginning of the end for Isuzu. Is anyone surprised? Isuzu was the emptiest and most lifeless display at NYIAS aside from Buick. Even the staff working the floor had given up.

[motownr]

No surprise. Isuzu is just slowly exiting the NA market in a manner which prevents their dealer body from exacting termination payments. A legal charade, nothing more.

[Variance]

Isuzu was the emptiest and most lifeless display at NYIAS aside from Buick.  Even the staff working the floor had given up.

[post="19905"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

They had a display?? :blink:

[sciguy_0504]

I think we could all see this coming. IMO, it's always hard to see a brand go, no matter how crappy it may be when it goes out. It's not like brands come and go in the auto industry, they usually have some sort of history. All the better, though.

[HarleyEarl]

I didn't realize that Isuzu has such a long history....they have some success in specific types of trucks.

http://www.isuzucv.com/news/

[HarleyEarl]

More Isuzu news:

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...INESS/509180328

Isuzu selling down inventory

Through dissolution of a 15-year partnership, Isuzu Motors America Inc. halted production of vehicles at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. plant in July of last year.

Isuzu dealers have a dwindling number of SIA-built models to sell.

The company sold 722 vehicles last month -- a 69 percent decline from the 2,325 units sold in the same month last year.

Among vehicles produced at SIA, Isuzu sold 39 Rodeos, compared to 1,350 in August of last year, and 43 Axiom sport-utility vehicles, compared to 188 in the same month of 2004.

Sales of the Ascender five- and seven-passenger SUVs, which are built in Ohio, totaled 582 last month, a decline from the 782 sold a year ago.

The company also sold 58 of its new model pickup trucks, which are built in Louisiana and hit dealer's showrooms in August.

Through the first eight months of this year, Isuzu sales totaled 9,166 units, a 53 percent decline from January to August of last year.

[El Scorcho]

"First, they cancel Empty Nest, and now this? Damnit!"

[post="19874"][/post]

My God...Brian gets the award for Post of the Year.

[daves87rs]

They had a display?? :blink:

[post="19918"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

ditto- :blink:

[VenSeattle]

Remember this article from just last month?

[HarleyEarl]

It's too bad...hate to see Isuzu leave the North American light truck market. It's nice to have the variety. Maybe they will concentrate on commercial trucks for this market.

[RJB]

GM should buy the rights to the Duramax V8 and the 4 cylinders and the 6s and cut their losses. They should stop bankrolling this company, its a losing situation other than the diesels. Let them flush themselves down the toilet once and for all. Was that a little harsh?

[Clownzilla]

GM should buy the rights to the Duramax V8 and the 4 cylinders and the 6s and cut their losses. They should stop bankrolling this company, its a losing situation other than the diesels. Let them flush themselves down the toilet once and for all. Was that a little harsh?

[post="20075"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I forgot that the Duramax V8 was an Isuzu engine..........that's about all that Isuzu has that GM would want. Anyway, seeing that the end of Isuzu is near, what was your favorite Isuzu? I must say that the Vehi Cross was (and still is) the hottest small SUV on the road. To bad they could not make somthing more out of them and the fact that they didn't build more of them.

[thegriffon]

GM should buy the rights to the Duramax V8 and the 4 cylinders and the 6s and cut their losses. They should stop bankrolling this company, its a losing situation other than the diesels. Let them flush themselves down the toilet once and for all. Was that a little harsh?

[post="20075"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

You're a little late, they did that years ago. The light vehicle engines, the Polish plant, the German development subsidiary (Isuzu Motors Germany), DMAX Ltd. and the Japanese development center (GMI Diesel engineering) are all controlled by GM.

Don't mistake the US performance for global. Internationally Isuzu is still the world's biggest manufacturer of medium trucks like the ones GM manufactures at Janesville and sells through Isuzu GM in North America (under the Isuzu, GMC and Chevrolet brands), and thery are now making a lot of money again. They are also the world's second biggest manufacturer of pickups outside North America (behind Toyota), under the Chevrolet, Holden and Isuzu brands. Production of pickups and medium trucks is supported by GM plants in Thailand and Africa. GM has also had a lot of success with the Chevrolet Tavera AUV (half minivan, half SUV), jointly developed with Isuzu. In some markets in South East Asia, Isuzu is often the 2nd biggest selling light vehicle manufacturer after Toyota, despite the complete absence of car models.

[turbo200]

how do you make a half minivan half SUV? :blink:

[thegriffon]

Think a smaller CSV. Typically they are designed like a small 2-box minivan (C- or D-segment), but built on a compact pickup chassis. Base models generally have only small wheels, high-end models often have larger wheels, extended wheel arches and off-road bodykits (still rwd though). The pioneer was Toyota, now in it's third generation with a new monospace model. Mitsubishi was next and Isuzu/Chevrolet followed with the Panther/HiLander/Tavera. The main markets are Indonesia, Philippines, and India, although they are also sold or assembled in Vietnam and Thailand, and more developed markets have at least been briefly considered by both Toyota and GM.


Toyota (Kijang) Innova


Mitsubishi (Freeca) Adventure


Chevrolet Tavera

Edited October 7, 2005 by thegriffon

[VenSeattle]

Thanks for the background info on Isuzu griffon. A lot of people on C&G don't seem to realize what Isuzu & Suzuki (both GM partners) are like outside of the US. They only know them by their limited US reputations.

[BlkHhr104]

Just to save them alltho it might not and just screw them even more......they could try a rodeo on Theta???? :unsure:

[carman21]

Goodbye & Good riddens. Who seriously cares? Its interesting to see a truck company fail in a nation obsessed with SUVs & Pick-ups.

[Robert Hall]

Interesting..that Toyota Innova looks like a Highlander greenhouse stuck on a minivan body...and that Chevy Travera sure looks like it has Isuzu Rodeo headlights...

[Sixty8panther]

Isuzu Pulls Out..... Honda gets pregnant anyway. :P