Isuzu to Stop Selling Trucks and SUVs in the United States
admin February 2nd, 2008
Well, it’s official. Joe Isuzu got the axe. Not really Joe, but Isuzu North America. Word came down that effective January 31, 2009, Isuzu will stop selling vehicles in the U.S..
As it stands now, there are only two vehicles populating Isuzu showrooms: The i-series pickup and the Ascender SUV (both made by GM for Isuzu in the U.S.) were all that were left of a once storied car and truck franchise in the U.S. At its peak in 1986, Isuzu sold 127,630 vehicles in America, according to AutoData.
Isuzu got its start in the U.S. building pickups for GM in the 1970s. By 1981, the Japanese automaker went out on its own with low-cost vehicles such as the Pup pickup and the Trooper. Isuzu wisely followed Jeep into the four-door SUV market when others offered only two-door models, and capitalized on a fast-growing category that it had largely for itself for many years.
Unfortunately, as other manufacturers introduced their own competing SUVs, Isuzu lost its leadership position in the segment, instead moving deeper into the car market through joint-venture deals with Subaru and other manufacturers. It also rebranded its SUVs and sold them to other manufacturers (remember the not-so reliable Honda Passport?)
Good luck, Joe Isuzu. Hope your migration to Japan goes well.
