Isuzu Motors India, a reasonably late entrant in the Indian auto market, is intending to create a new pickup segment with its products produced in the country.
“We have pertained to India to develop a segment. The pick-up vehicle is the most essential item of ISUZU outside Japan where it is not offered. We intend to develop a new pick-up sector in India both in the personal and commercial categories,” deputy managing director of ISUZU Motors India Hitoshi Kono informed reporters at the launch of’ mu-X’ SUV. He stated until now the company had been producing and exporting from its plant in Thailand.
“Now from our plant at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, the company will manufacture 3 pickups, particularly V-Cross (for personal), S-Cab and Regular Cab (for the commercial sector) besides the SUV,” he stated.
In the last financial year, the company sold 3000-odd units, making up 2000 units of V-Cross and 1000 units of S-Cab and Regular Cab.
“In the present financial year, the anticipated development in the percentage volume terms is 15 percent”, he stated.
Production in the Indian plant began with April 2016. With an initial production capacity of 50,000 units each year, the AP plant could be increased to 120,000 per year depending on the demand. From the AP plant, constructed at an investment of Rs 3000 crore, ISUZU prepares to export to the SAARC countries in addition to the Middle East and Africa, company authorities stated.
