Report - Isuzu working on Toyota Innova rival with India as manufacturing base

30/08/2014 - 12:18 Isuzu MU-7, Isuzu RU30, Isuzu Nithyanandh K

The full sized MPV is codenamed Isuzu RU30.

Economic Times reports that Isuzu is working on a new MPV to rival the Toyota Innova. The report says that the upcoming people carrier will have India as its production base.

Indian Isuzu MU-7 front — The MU-7 (image) and D-Max are currently assembled at HM's Chennai facility.

Isuzu has announced an investment of INR 3,000 crore in the country which would see a full fledged manufacturing plant come up at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. The Japanese automaker currently sells the MU-7 SUV and D-Max pickup truck in India, and both are assembled at Hindustan Motors' Chennai facility on a temporary basis.

No technical details of the MPV is available as of now. In a statement, Mr. Takashi Kikuchi, president and MD, Isuzu Motors India, said that the future product plan has not been finalized yet and the company's current agenda is to achieve 80% localization for its existing products in India in the next two years.

Isuzu D-Max Spacecab Arched Deck Review front three quarter — The company's immediate task is to localize existing products by up to 80% in the next 2 years.

The Isuzu RU30 is reported to be ready by the festive season of 2016, a short while after the launch of the next gen Toyota Innova. ET says that Isuzu is planning to sell around 40,000 units of the MPV in the Indian market per year.

Check out our review of the Isuzu D-Max

Once the Sri City plant is up and running, it would also act as an export base for new MPV. The car could be shipped to Asian nations, where the Toyota Innova is popular.

Competitors: Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Tata Aria

Expected Price: INR 10 - 13 lakhs, ex-showroom

Launch Date: 2016

[Source: Economic Times]