Report - Jointly developed Isuzu-GM pickup truck to be made in India

26/09/2014 - 16:58 Isuzu D-Max, Isuzu Anjan Ravi

Official announcement due on Friday, according to a report.

According to Nikkei, Isuzu Motors and General Motors will jointly develop a pickup truck for emerging markets. The new pickup will be manufactured in Southeast Asia and India, and sales will start in Thailand and Indonesia as early as 2015. Nikkei did not reveal the source of this information, but said that a formal announcement will be made by the companies on Friday.

Isuzu D-Max Spacecab Arched Deck Review side — The new pickup will be meant for emerging markets. Image of the D-Max Spacecab used for illustration only.

Isuzu's upcoming plant at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, would have to serve to build the new pickup truck. The new plant, which takes on an investment of INR 3,000 crore, will roll out pickups with 70 percent localization from the start of operations. In a few years after the plant's start of operation, localization levels will reach 100 percent. The plant has an area of 4,30,000 square meters.

Isuzu D-Max Spacecab Arched Deck Review steering — The India-made Isuzus will have a localization of at least 70 percent at the start of operations.

Also read: Review - Isuzu D-Max and D-Max Spacecab

Isuzu in India is also planning on a new MPV to take on the likes of the Toyota Innova and Honda Mobilio. The vehicle, codenamed RU30, could launch in the festive period of 2016 with annual planned production of 40,000 units per annum. Isuzu's current lineup in India has the D-Max pickup (Single cab and Spacecab) and MU-7 SUV.