Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) sustained its authority in diesel-powered vehicles as it posted steady sales for its model lineup in 2011, with the Isuzu N-Series light-duty truck topping its segment.

Figures released by the Truck Manufacturers Association and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines show that the N-Series took a 69.4 percent share of Category III, the light-duty commercial truck segment, as the model recorded sales of 1,196 units from January to December 2011. This marked a successful streak for the N-Series as it enjoyed an equally dominating 67.1 percent share in 2010 with 1,030 units sold. Impressively, the N-Series has overwhelmingly led Category III for 13 straight years since 1999.

“The N-Series trucks’ achievement of being the bestseller in a competitive class for 13 straight years is concrete proof of its superiority over its rivals,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki. “It means the market has full confidence in the model, which can only be the result of a very satisfying ownership experience.”

Credit to the N-Series’ popularity goes in part to its versatility as the vehicle can be configured as a passenger van, aluminum cargo van, refrigerated van, fire truck, drop-side truck, aerial platform truck, refuse collector, dump truck, cargo truck or tanker. The N-Series’ durability and dependability have also made them the light commercial truck of choice among entrepreneurs and business partners.

Isuzu’s medium- and heavy-duty trucks were also as dominant in their Category IV and V segments. In 2011 IPC sold 240 units of these trucks, including the popular Forward model, with the vehicles accounting for 24.8 percent share of the segments. This was a marked growth from IPC’s 2010 figures, which showed that 165 medium- and heavy-duty trucks were sold, resulting in a 14.3 percent share.

In 2011, commercial vehicles continued to dominate the Philippine automotive industry with a 68.3% advantage over passenger cars, and cementing Isuzu’s hold on the commercial vehicle segment were the company’s Alterra, D-MAX and highly popular Crosswind models. From January to December last year, IPC sold 855 of the luxuriously equipped Alterra SUV; 2,500 units of the tough and hardworking D-MAX, with the pickup accounting for 16.3 percent of its class; and 5,029 units of the Crosswind, or a 16.7 percent share of its class, leading IPC posting a tally of 9,820 units sold.

Besides continuously offering upgraded models that address customers’ desires and requirements, IPC’s steady market performance in 2011 can also be attributed to the various events that the company held, and the biggest of these was a show staged in April called “On the Right Truck to a Better Future.” (PNA)

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The local automotive industry reported a decline in sales for the first eight months of the year due to the effects of the disasters in Japan that limited the production and supply of some models.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) in a joint report showed a 4.1 percent decline in January to August sales from a year ago level. During the first eight months of 2011, total industry sales stood at 93,108 units, lower than the 97,122 units recorded a year ago.

Month-on-month, however, the August sales performance was slightly higher at 11,558 from 11,550 in July due to introduction of new model, continuous promotion and availability of units.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. sold 34,190 units or 36.72 percent of total market share.

This was followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with sales of 21,182 units or 24.43 percent market share. Third was Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 9.73 percent market share or 9,062 units followed by Ford Motor Company Phils. Inc. with 8.81 percent or 8,200 units and followed by Isuzu Philippines Corp. with 6.72 percent or 6,259 units.

Sales of passenger cars registered a 6.8 percent growth compared to last July’s figure but lower when compared from a year ago level.

Commercial vehicle sales decreased by 3.2 percent to 7, 532 in August from 7,782 units in July.

Philippine Star

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Bidding to serve businesses looking for a versatile service-oriented vehicle, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) last week launched the i-Van variant of its best-selling NHR light duty truck.

Made in partnership with Centro Manufacturing Corp., which manufactures the vehicle’s body, the i-Van offers the businessman the capability to seat 12 to 18 full-sized adults or carry cargo of up to 1.5 tons.

Isuzu’s 2.8-liter 4JB1-TC with intercooler diesel engine, capable of delivering 91 PS of power and 20 kg-m of torque and mated to a five-speed manual transmission, powers the i-Van. The NHR, Isuzu claims, has managed to deliver fuel consumption of 12.965 kilometers per liter under normal driving conditions.

Passengers can expect individual fabric-covered seats with assist grips and pockets, a factory-installed air-conditioning system that extends up to the rear, a four-speaker AM/FM stereo system with an in-dash CD player and even fully covered floors.

The i-VAN maintains the same NHR gross vehicle weight of 3.8 tons. Its overall length of 5,025 mm and overall height of 2,092 mm keeps it class 1 on major tollways.

The body options include passenger van, cargo van, school bus and even an ambulance.

“The local landscape is indeed changing and as transport needs become more demanding, we want to be the companion that working motorists can rely on,” IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki said during the launch.

“The Isuzu NHR with i-VAN body option is our answer to the growing requirements of Filipinos when it comes to people and cargo transport,” he added.

Business World Online

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Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) yesterday said parts supply problems from Japan, particularly of electronic components, have shaved sales of the company by 20 percent in June when sales went down to about 600 units, the lowest monthly sales so far.

But Art Balmadrid, senior vice president of IPC, told reporters at the sidelines yesterday of the launch of the new Isuzu i-VAN, production would be back to 100-percent by August from this month’s average of 80 percent as supply normalizes

Balmadrid said IPC company sales normally average 800 a month.

Due to supply crunch, IPC had to shut down for two weeks each month in May and June.

Except for the Alterra which is imported completely built-up from Thailand, all of IPC’s product offerings are locally-assembled.

Balmadrid said the addition of i-VAN, a truck converted and modified into a van, would boost IPC’s product lineup.

About 50 percent of IPC sales are the Crosswind Asian utility vehicle.

Inspite of the supply shortage, Balmadrid said IPC has maintained a good inventory that has allowed to service back orders which to only 20 percent.

Balmadrid said IPC downscaled its yearend sales target of 12,500 units to a minimum of 11,000 units due to lower month-on-month sales.

This represents a flat growth as it matches 2010 sales.

Malaya Business Insight

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Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has revised its yearend sales growth target to only five percent due to supply problems.

At the sidelines of yesterday’s launch of its new i-van, Isuzu Philippines senior vice president Arthur Balmadrid said they are currently operating at 80 percent capacity but expect normal operations by next month. The earthquake and tsunami in Eastern Japan has resulted in operational difficulties for Isuzu’s Japan-based operations.

Balmadrid reported that for May and June, Isuzu’s local manufacturing plant had to be shut down for two weeks for both months. All Isuzu vehicles sold here except for the Altera are manufactured in the Philippines.

In spite of the supply shortage, Balmadrid said that their good inventory has allowed them to manage their back orders to only 20 percent.

Balmadrid said they have decided to revise their original yearend sales target of 12,500 units to a minimum of 11,000 units because month on month sales have gone down by as much as 20 percent.

On the upside, Balmadrid said that sales have rebounded this month. As of the third week July, sales have already reached more than 800 units, a vast improvement from sales of more than 600 units in June.

Balmadrid said that was the worse monthly sales figure they have seen. On the average they sell 800 to 900 units per month.

Balmadrid said that 50 percent of their sales is still the Crosswind.

Meanwhile, Isuzu launched the new Isuzu NHR w/ i-van body option, a comfortable vehicle that can seat 12 or 16 or even 18 full-sized adults and can even accommodate cargo of 1.5 tons. Powered by the proven 2.8-liter 4JB1-TC with intercooler diesel engine, the NHR commands 91 ps power and 20.0 kg-m of torque, thanks in part to Isuzu’s tried and tested direct-injection technology.

The Isuzu NHR has 3-point emergency locking retractor seat belt; fuel lid with key lock; highly rigid frame; 2-jet nozzle with intermittent wiper; 90-degree door opening for easy ingress and egress; anti-slip aluminum step; power steering and tilting; all-around visibility, laminated green wind shield glass; and, large side view mirrors. Ride is made more passenger-friendly with the improved flex-ride suspension to swing the ride balance toward comfort.

The Isuzu NHR w/i-VAN body option are available in different applications: passenger van, cargo van, school bus, and ambulance, among other variants.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Philstar.com

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After some other Japanese automakers that stopped or reduced production, it’s time for Isuzu Motors to suspend operations at its Philippine subsidiary.

Parts shortage is obviously the main cause and Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) is forced to suspend assembly between April 18 and May 2. The automaker remains optimistic and still believes it can reach its 17% growth for the current year.

Yuki Kato, IPC executive vice-president, said that although Isuzu Motors did not suffer any damage due to March earthquakes, some of its suppliers did. IPC depends heavily on parts imported from Japan and they hope that this shortage of components will soon come to an end.

Reports that Volkswagen has plans to obtain a stake in the Tokyo-based truckmaker have been denied by Isuzu. Susumu Hosoi, Isuzu Motors president, said he intends to run his company independently and the only reason why he would associate with another automaker is to improve access on markets as well as market segments.

The earthquake that hit Japan seriously affected the local automakers production rate, Toyota alone being one example. Last month, the automaker’s 120,000 units per year production capacity of its factory in Miyagi Prefecture was damaged.

In March, Nissan was forced to suspend production at six factories due to the earthquake. At the Tochigi Plant and the Iwaki Plant small fires occurred, but all were quickly extinguished. Restoration for the plants will further delay full production capacities in the forthcoming time.

Due to the earthquake, Honda was forced to stop production of six factories and this led to suspension regarding the production of finished automobiles at Saitama Factory and Suzuka Factory from March to April.

Autoevolution.com News

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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.

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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).

Last week from March 18-24, the Isuzu mall tour was in SM City South Mall (Isuzu Alabang), Robinsons Place Bacolod (Isuzu Bacolod), Lim Ket Kai Mall in Cagayan de Oro (Isuzu Cagayan de Oro), SM City Santa Rosa (Isuzu San Pablo).

Aside from the above malls, Isuzu has also displayed at Waltermart Gapan (Isuzu Cabanatuan), SM City Bacoor (Isuzu Cavite), SM City Lipa (Isuzu Batangas), SM City Marilao (Isuzu Bulacan), Park Mall Cebu (Isuzu Cebu), SM City Fairview (Isuzu Commonwealth), Brickstone Mall in Tuguegarao (Isuzu Isabela), SM Mall of Asia (Isuzu Makati), SM City Marikina (Isuzu Manila), SM City Pampanga (Isuzu Pampanga), and Robinsons Place Galleria (Isuzu Pasig).

Isuzu’s nationwide mall tour is part of the Dyna Mission of the “Isuzu Diesel Mission” campaign. It is mainly a diesel-engine awareness drive designed to showcase Isuzu’s product innovation and development; Isuzu’s diesel technology and vehicle design; Isuzu diesel’s advantages over gasoline; and Isuzu diesel’s superiority to other diesel engines.

The Isuzu Diesel Mission is sponsored by Caltex Diesel w/ Techron D. Other supporters of the event are Freego, JVC, AVT, Centro Manufacturing Corp., Home Depot, Smartlink and Matabungkay Beach Resort.

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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.

The latest product, which boasts of Isuzu’s ecology friendly and people first technology is the Isuzu Microbus. Assembled by premier coach builder Centro Manufacturing Corporation, the Microbus can seat 16 adults with ample space left for cargo and personal belongings.

Based on Isuzu’s N-Series light duty truck, the Isuzu Microbus is powered by a 2.8 liter 4JB1 turbo intercooled, direct injection TC engine. “Customer oriented establishments looking for an affordable and dependable means of transportation for their clients now have the best mini bus the local industry can offer,” said Art Balmadrid, senior vice president for corporate business. “This Microbus is spacious, powerful, comfortable and simply the best value for money.”

Prices range from P1.3 million to P1.5 million.

Without stating what is obvious to auto enthusiasts, Isuzu is setting its sights on the informal mass transport market which serves as the bread and butter for Universal Motors’ Urvan and Toyota Motor’s Hi-Ace.

It is not exactly a mission impossible for Isuzu Philippines. So far, all the pieces are falling into the right place.

Manila Standard Today

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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.”

At the same time, Isuzu also launched the 2010 N-Series trucks, which are now Euro-2 compliant and may be modified into commercial-use vehicles like passenger buses, refrigerated vans, fire trucks, cargo trucks and other carriers.

Isuzu Motors Ltd.’s Masahisa Kitamura, chief engineer of the N-Series truck who was in Manila during the launch, said the truck was really designed to meet the requirements of different businesses.

“Our customers consistently cite its durability, reliability, fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs as being the main factors as to why they choose this vehicle,” Kitamura said.

Isuzu Philippines said the N-Series has been the country’s leading light-duty truck since 1999.

Isuzu Philippines dominated the light-truck sector of the commercial vehicle segment with sales reaching 997 units representing 49.2 percent of the market in 2009.

Business Mirror

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