Isuzu Micro Bus

[jpdm]

In cooperation with Centro Manufacturing, Inc. Isuzu co-developed a vehicle for the mass market. Competing directly with those surplus and second hand remanufactured Isuzu elf type minibus from Cebu and Sobida Motors Corp.

[SIZE=4]Isuzu unveils microbus for public transport
[/SIZE]
Saturday, 06 March 2010 00:00
BY BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA Reporter
Manila Times

Isuzu Philippines Corp. unveiled on Thursday a “microbus” that could serve as a new means of public transportation for the country.

Arthur Balmadrid, Isuzu Philippines senior vice president, told reporters that the [SIZE=4][SIZE=2]16-seater Isuzu microbus could be registered as a “Philippine Brand Vehicle.”[/SIZE] [/SIZE]This new manufacturing category was included by the Board of Investments in the proposed updated Motor Vehicle Development Program.

[SIZE=2]The company executive said the microbus would be assembled locally, in partnership with Centro Manufacturing Corp.,and would be available by the second half of this year.[/SIZE]

With this microbus and four newly launched light-duty truck variants under its fifth-generation N-Series lineup, Isuzu expects sales this year to grow by a tenth to 10,500 units.

Latest industry data showed that the company sold 625 units in January, up by about a third year-on-year.

Last year, Isuzu sold 8.8 percent less, or 9,213 units in 2008, which is the fifth highest number of vehicles sold last year. However, its market share contracted 1.1 percent.

Keiji Takeda, Isuzu Philippines president, said the country’s stable economy would augur well with the company’s plan to ramp up domestic production to meet the potentially higher demand.

Isuzu manufactured about 8,000 units last year, about half of the plant’s maximum production capacity of 15,000 units annually.

[SIZE=4][SIZE=2]Its Biñan, Laguna plant churns out[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=4][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=4][SIZE=2]Crosswind, an Asian utility vehicle (AUV); D-Max pickups; and various passenger van and truck models for domestic sales.[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=4][SIZE=2] [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=4][SIZE=2]The Alterra units are imported from Thailand.[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=4]
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Isuzu Autoparts Manufacturing Corp., an affiliate company, manufactures and distributes car components also in Laguna.[/SIZE]

Takeda said they used to export parts to Vietnam but recently stopped because the country jacked up excise taxes.

The company, however, hopes to export AUVs to Costa Rica and Guatemala since emission and safety regulations in those countries are similar to that of Philippine standards.

[jpdm]

The Microbus of isuzu
Philippines

Isuzu pushes exports of Crosswind, launches ‘microbus’ in RP

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
March 6, 2010, 3:17pm
Manila Bulletin




Isuzu Philippines Corporation President Keiji Takeda poses beside the 20-seater Isuzu Microbus which was unveiled before the media and government authorities on March 4, 2010 at the Esplanade in Pasay City. (Photo by ANJO PEREZ)



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.


For its CKD line-up, the all-truck assembler also unveiled a new CKD model dubbed “Microbus,” which is intended for entrepreneurial purposes. Takeda said that “Microbus”, which is a co-development between IPC as provider of brand new power train and Filipino firm Centro Manufacturing Corp. as body builder, is a 16-seater mini-bus that is expected to compete head on with existing vans being used as shuttle buses, school buses and tourist buses. The power train and the chassis would be imported from Indonesia.


Takeda said the “Microbus” would be custom-built depending on the specifications of the customer but would have a price range of P1.2 million to P1.5 million a unit.


Microbus would be launched in the market in the second semester this year.
Takeda expects to sell between 40 to 50 units a month of Microbuses out of an annual full capacity of 1,000 units a year.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/246460...es-microbus-rp

[romski123]

this is meant to address the growing shuttle van market in cavite and other neighboring cities.

[meledson]

possible PUJ replacement

[ghosthunter]

possible PUJ replacement

Takeda said the “Microbus” would be custom-built depending on the specifications of the customer but would have a price range of P1.2 million to P1.5 million a unit.

With that price, I doubt it would replace the PUJs directly. But it might open up a potential competition to the PUJs that would eventually make the PUJs uneconomical to continue operating on major lines.

[niky]

They'll have to remove or soften the current importation tax breaks given secondhand buses to open up the market for this vehicle and the one Mitsubishi is making... or at least become stricter with emissions and roadworthiness compliance of old buses.

You can get a good condition full-sized bus second hand for the same money.

[myas110]

Any comments about Isuzu Microbus which was recently showcased at the Philippine International Motor Show?

My comment would be: will this vehicle compete with the Public Vans/FXs or even those jeepney? But when i asked an SA, it will not be sold yet here in PH due to some parts needs to be sourced here.

The microbus is a Truck based vehicle

some pics:

[Benzmizer]

Any comments about Isuzu Microbus which was recently showcased at the Philippine International Motor Show?

some pics:

It would be good for ISUZU to have this. Besides, diesel is their expertise and they never had a mini bus or van in their line-up. Looking to see lots of these on the road.

[GTi]

Are the specifications the same as with the NHR truck? If so, then wouldn't it be quite underpowered? They've got to install a turbo intercooler engine in this one. Maybe they can also make one on the NPR or NQR chassis so it can seat more people. If properly marketed, I can see the NHR variant having huge success in the GT Express industry where for a few hundred thousand pesos more, they can seat more people and still deliver good fuel economy.

[roberto_minosa]

I also saw this at the PIM Show.

If I had the capital, I'd operate a Micro Bus only if it could seat a few more...looks like this one seats too few for public transportation.