Isuzu
From Freepedia
- This article refers to an automobile company. For the fictional character, see Isuzu Sohma.
Isuzu Motors Ltd. (いすゞ自動車, Isuzu Jidōsha Kabushiki Kaisha) (TYO: 7202) is a Japanese automobile company, headquartered in Tokyo. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures Tochigi and Hokkaido. Isuzu is famous for producing commercial vehicles and diesel engines and it produced 16 million diesel engines in 2003 alone, which can be found in cars all over the world.
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History
- 1916 - Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. cooperatively 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.
- 1949 - Isuzu is adopted as company name.
- 1953 - With technical assistance of Rootes (U.K.) the Hillman Minx passenger car is produced.
- 1971 - A capital agreement with General Motors is signed.
- 1972 - The Chevrolet LUV becomes the first Isuzu-built vehicle to be sold in the United States.
- 1973 - Isuzu introduces the Gemini, which is co-produced with General Motors.
- 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’s 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.
- 2002 - Subaru buys Isuzu's share. Subaru Isuzu Automotive 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.
- 2005 - Isuzu dealers in the United States will have only two models, the Ascender and the Isuzu i-Series, both rebadged GM vehicles, 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. Rumors of Isuzu's withdrawal from the US market are rampant.
Important car models
- 117 Coupe
- 1963–1973 - Bellett sedan (PR20) and 2 door GT (PR90 & PR91)
- 1974–2000 - Gemini/I-Mark/Stylus sedan
- 1983–1992 - Piazza/Impulse hatchback
- 1983–2002 - Aska sedan
- 1996–2000 - Isuzu Hombre pickup truck
- 1999–2001 - VehiCROSS halo SUV
- 1991–2004 - Rodeo small SUV
- 2001–2004 - Axiom small SUV
- Trooper large SUV
- 2002— - Ascender large SUV
- 2006— - i-280/i-350 pickup truck
Related topics
External links
Categories: Companies traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange | Automobile manufacturers | Bus manufacturers | Truck manufacturers | Companies of Japan | General Motors | Isuzu
