Japanese Auto maker Isuzu has silently launched passenger vehicles in the Indian market. The company launched the Isuzu D-Max regular cab priced at Rs 6.87 lakhs, Crew Cab priced at Rs 8.09 lakhs and MU-7 SUV at Rs 23.75 lakhs.
Isuzu is currently testing the market with two dealerships based in Hyderabad and Coimbatore. The models are launched as CBU’s which are directly imported from Thailand. Isuzu will initially concentrate only in Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as will later launch products pan India as demand picks up.
This is a very different approach by the Japanese automaker which has a good presence pan India, thanks to its joint venture with Swaraj which sells Light & Medium commercial vehicles.
The Dmax will compete with the likes of Mahindra Maxx Maxitruck and Tata 207 pick up truck. While the MU7 will go head on with the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Ford Endeavour. All these SUV’s are based on their counter pick-up platforms.
Mr. Shigeru Wakabayashi, Deputy Managing Director, Isuzu believes India is a very fast developing country and is at a stage where China was 10 years ago. India is currently the seventh largest car maker in the world and the demand for personal transport is only going to increase.
Isuzu is considering a manufacturing base with a capacity to make one lakh units a year. There are also talks with Hindustan Motors to use the idle capacity at its Chennai plant. Though a very late entrant in the Indian market Isuzu has a potential especially in the pick-up segment where the company is a leader in the Thai market.
Source: HBL
