Isuzu Philippines Defers Plan to Sell Vehicles to Central America

Isuzu Philippines Corp. is deferring plans to export locally-assembled vehicles to Central America pending the resolution of pricing issues, outgoing company president Keiji Takeda told reporters Monday night.

“We tried but the stumbling block was that the price requirement from them and our cost does not match. So that was the biggest barrier, the biggest hurdle,” Takeda said at the sidelines of the turnover ceremony of the company’s leadership. “We will continue our effort to minimize the gap but it is too big for them to get the big order.” Ryoji Yamazaki is taking over the presidency of Isuzu.

Takeda in February said the company was looking at the Central American market for its vehicles, including the Crosswind and possibly the recently-launched Microbus. “I’ve been telling my people to study the possibility of [the inclusion of] a Microbus but that is just a very, very initial idea,” he said, adding that he himself did not know if there would be a market for Microbus.

“But I think that like in the Philippine market, I also believe that we will have a strong potential to export to Central America. Another difficulty is that… from the Philippines to Central America, [it would be a] very, very long way,” he said.

He said the size of Microbus could present logistic problems “so we are still studying about it.”

Takeda said the company had not received orders yet for the Microbus in the local market. Isuzu is set to launch the Microbus by the end of the year yet and may adjust its initial P1.3-million price tag.

Isuzu Philippines Sets Summer Mall Rounds

Car buyers will now find it very easy to check on Isuzu vehicles when Isuzu Philippines Corp. brings its Crosswind, D-Max and Alterra to popular malls nationwide. Isuzu is taking its award-winning, diesel-powered vehicles out of the showroom and into malls to give customers the unbeatable convenience of shopping for everything under one roof.

“We want our customers to see for themselves the value proposition of our vehicles even without them setting foot in our dealerships,” said IPC President Keiji Takeda.

“We know that visiting malls is a favorite Filipino pastime so we’re only enhancing our customers’ mall experience this summer season.”

The schedule of Isuzu’s mall tour is: March 22-28 at Gateway Mall in Araneta Center (Isuzu Quezon Avenue); April 6-12 at SM City Davao (Isuzu Davao); April 8-14 at Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte (Isuzu Pangasinan); and April 18-23 at Robinsons Place Iloilo (Isuzu Iloilo). Read more

Isuzu Philippines Completes Mission

The world’s diesel authority is all set once more to fire up the local auto industry with the completion of its four-pronged diesel awareness campaign.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation president Keiji Takeda referred to his company’s campaign as ‘‘Isuzu mission.’’ “We are very excited with the Isuzu diesel mission campaign. We are confident that the public will be 100 percent convinced that Isuzu vehicles and diesel engines are simply the best in the industry,” states Takeda.

The first part of the mission is the Dura campaign which highlighted the durability, toughness, and power of its vehicle line up. The second component is the “Farthest” mission which is manifested in media test drives, 4×4 driving clinics, mall tours, sales caravans, plus the 2010 Isuzu challenge where variants travel the whole of Luzon on a full tank of fuel. The third part is the “Eco” mission which highlights the eco-friendly engines of Isuzu variants and showcases its contribution to the preservation of Mother Nature by way of corporate social responsibility activities.

The last component of the Diesel Mission is the introduction of product innovations, unique, yet functional vehicle designs and to highlight the advantages of high tech diesel engines over gasoline powered vehicles. Read more

Isuzu Philippines Bares New Line of Buses

Isuzu Philippines Corp. formally introduced its new line of Microbus, a commercial vehicle based on the N-Series truck platform, to service the needs of fleet and mass transport.

With a chassis built by Centro Manufacturing Corp., the Microbus is powered by a 2.8-liter Isuzu 4JB1-TC engine which can seat up to16 passengers.

Isuzu senior vice president Art Balmadrid said, “Customer-oriented establishments looking for a dependable and affordable means of transport for their clients now have the best minibus the industry can offer.”

The Microbus price range will be from P1.3 to P2 million, depending on the interior components. Balmadrid said, “Right now, we are still getting a feel of what the market wants in the Microbus, and we intend to adjust or modify it to those requirements.” Read more

Isuzu Philippines Pushes Exports of Crosswind, Launches ‘Microbus’ in RP

Isuzu Philippines Corp. unveils two major projects this year: Resumption of exports of its Asian utility vehicle Crosswind to Central America and local assembly of an entrepreneurial vehicle called “Microbus” – as the company anticipates as much as 15 percent growth in sales this year.

Keiji Takeda, IPC president, told reporters at the launch of its latest Isuzu N-Series light-duty trucks that they are still negotiating with distributors in Guatemala and Costa Rica for completely built-up exports of Crosswind after exports were halted last year due to price issues.

In 2006 to 2008, IPC exported 60 units of Crosswind to these countries, Takeda said.

Overall exports of IPC including exports of some parts and components of Crosswind to Vietnam still account for a measly 1 percent of its total business in the country. Read more

Isuzu Philippines Maintains Truck Market Leadership in 2009

According to the combined official figures released by the Truck Manufacturers Association of the Philippines and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc., Isuzu trucks again outsold the competition in 2009, as it had the previous 11 straight years.

Last year, Isuzu’s N-Series light-duty trucks sold a total of 996 units, or 56.8 percent of Category 3 of the commercial vehicle segment. Isuzu’s medium-duty trucks, including the Forward, were just as dominant, selling 232 units for 57.9 percent of Category 4. Read more

Isuzu Philippines Corp Marks 1st Anniversary, Success of Auto Mechanic Training Center

The challenging year of 2009 is not entirely devoid of inspiring and positive stories. Isuzu Philippines Corp. and Isuzu Auto Parts Manufacturing Corp. helped celebrate the first anniversary of the TESDA Auto Mechanic training Center in Tacloban, Leyte, which Isuzu Motors Limited of Japan funded. The project — which is part of Isuzu Japan’s “Heart And Smile” corporate social responsibility campaign — formally opened in 2008 with the aim of providing expert and subsidized automotive training to select underprivileged youth.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority bestowed also in 2009 an award to Isuzu in recognition of its philanthropic contributions to the project. Acknowledging the award, Isuzu Motors Limited chairman Yoshinori Ida said, “Isuzu will continue its generous support of the project and work closely with TESDA in ensuring the progress of all scholars because the company believes in the young people being the foundation of a strong Philippine economy in the future.”

“It is our sincere hope that these bright and hardworking young people will be valuable members not just of the automotive industry but also of the Philippine society in the future,” said IPC president Keiji Takeda. “We expect nothing from them in return except their pledge to positively use the technical knowledge and expertise that they will get from the program.”

In photo, Isuzu chairman Yoshinori Ida (1st row, standing 7th from left) joins Plan Phils and TESDA officials together with the Isuzu scholars in celebrating the auto mechanic training center’s first anniversary.

Isuzu Philippines Offers Assistance to Typhoon-Hit Vehicle Owners

Isuzu Philippines Corp., the world’s leading utility and lifestyle vehicle line, has launched a calamity assistance program that gives customers a 30-percent discount on parts and related labor charges.

“Isuzu is one with the country in these truly challenging times,” said IPC executive vice president Yuki Kato. “We would like our clients to know that we will extend all the assistance they may require to get their Isuzu vehicles back on the road.”

Under this program, Isuzu is providing a 30-percent discount on parts including engine, transmission, drivetrain, ECM/TCM, body panels, doors and electrical parts but excluding batteries and accessories. The same discount applies on labor charges for repair, replacement, installation and overhauling of the mentioned parts. Read more

Isuzu Philippines Unveils New 2009 D-MAX Variants

There has never been a better time to buy a pickup than now. That’s because Isuzu Philippines Corp., assembler of world-class and award-winning diesel-powered vehicles, has just introduced two new variants of the D-MAX pickup for 2009. The pair of the new LS and the Boondock II now boast features previously only found on higher-end trims. The new features make the tough D-MAX stunning as well.

For the 2009 D-MAX LS, the following upgrades have been made: installation of new side stepboards with anti-slip rubber (only for the 4×2); change of door insert material from sports jersey to leatherette; change of seat material from sports jersey to black leather; switch to a more modern audio head unit (JVC KD G845); and addition of two-eye back-up sensors. Read more

Isuzu Challenge 2009 Goes Green

And they’re off… to determine who’s the best among the best in fuel efficiency driving among the new breed of Isuzu Challenge champions!

For six years now, the annual Isuzu Challenge has been a showcase of fuel-efficiency driving for Isuzu’s roster of tried, tested and trusted vehicles.  Participants compete in a race to register the most fuel-efficient rating for their Isuzu vehicles.  Participants are customers invited by Isuzu as a way of promoting the importance of saving precious fuel, as well as to say “thank you” for their patronage.

The seventh edition, held last April 25 2009, was similar to the previous six in  that it remained a test of fuel-efficiency, but with a couple of changes.  First, the teams were the winners of the Isuzu Family Challenge 2008; therefore this year’s edition featured the best of last year’s participants from 17 dealerships of Isuzu nationwide.  Media participants were also invited to compete in a separate category.  A Tournament of Champions, so to speak. Read more

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