Isuzu to Pull Out of Detroit Auto Show Next Year As U.S. Sales Plummet

[Perian]

Link: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050923/auto_...suzu.html?.v=1

Isuzu to Pull Out of Detroit Auto Show Next Year As U.S. Sales Plummet

Friday September 23, 1:37 pm ET
By Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) -- Isuzu, the Japanese truck specialist that has been stung by falling U.S. sales, said Friday it is pulling out of the prestigious North American International Auto Show next year, a decision sure to fuel speculation about the automaker's future in the U.S. market.

Isuzu Motors America Inc. spokesman Chip Letzgus said despite the decision, Isuzu is committed to remaining in the U.S. market.

"Isuzu has said repeatedly that we have no intention of pulling out of the U.S. market," Letzgus said. "There's nothing to be read into that."

But the company has fallen far from the 1980s and 1990s, when it helped pioneer the sport utility vehicle with its Isuzu Trooper. Isuzu's U.S. sales fell by more than half in the first eight months of this year to a total of 9,166, according to Autodata Corp. That was one-tenth of a percent of the 6.5 million trucks and SUVs sold in that period.

Isuzu sells three vehicles in North America: the Ascender SUV and the i-350 and i-280 midsize pickups. The company has leaned heavily on General Motors Corp., which owns a 10 percent share of Isuzu, to bring those products to market. All three share basic architecture with GM vehicles, and they're built at GM plants.

Article continues at link.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by Perian

Isuzu Motors America Inc. spokesman Chip Letzgus said despite the decision, Isuzu is committed to remaining in the U.S. market.

Spoken like a true spokesman.

Can anyone here name one single reason Isuzu should stay in the United States marketplace?

[Buick61]

Shame. I liked the Axiom. And the direct injection engine it got late in life really sweetened the sauce.

But any company that had a hard time selling SUVs, of all things, in the first half of this decade is seriously incompetent.

[likearock00]

Look at Isuzu's lineup now...I went to the dealership and what did I see? Nothing but rebadged Chevy Trailblazers. They have 0 cars, and other than a pre-employee price that was less than the TB, their lineup is pretty pathetic. Isuzu is only a simple way of selling more Trailblazers. Now that gas is so high, I think they will definitely be gone and I don't think many will notice!

[Canyonaro]

I still own a '96 Isuzu Rodeo, and in fact my Transfer case in my and everyone else's Canyon is an Isuzu transfer case (which bothers me that it is just a part-time 4x4 system).

They are down sales because they really don't have much to offer besides the 3 gm re badged products. But you heard it from me first that they are just revamping new products so they will be back. Anyone remember Suzuki? Same idea as that comback was, so don't count them out yet (although I think they should get out of the US market and just constraint on the Asain market).

[plane]

Goodbye. So long. Farewell.

Bye bye now!

[Parkwood60]

I really miss the old Impulse, besides the Axiom, which I agree was kinda cool too. That old Impluse, first generation, took parts from the already 10 year old Opel Cadet/Chevy Chevette/Isuzu I-mark and reshuffled them to make a viable sports coupe. Handling by Lotus, don't you know.

The second generation was based on the new front drive Cadet/I-mark chassis, but added all wheel drive and a 16 valve turbo/intercooled motor. That was a car that never got its due. Also the Turbo Chevy Spectrum/I-Mark RS 16 valve was a viable competitor for the VW GTI, but good luck finding one of those left in good condition.

[Phillip]

Originally Posted by Perian

Spoken like a true spokesman.

Can anyone here name one single reason Isuzu should stay in the United States marketplace?

Unless they stop relying on GM to give them products to keep them afloat...no?

[Mr. Burns]

IZUZU is history, in a few years at least, unless they can get a nissan turn around. How's suzuki doing though? id say they're next to go.

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

IZUZU is history, in a few years at least, unless they can get a nissan turn around. How's suzuki doing though? id say they're next to go.

I predict Isuzu will be gone within the next couple of years or so. Suzuki I feel will make a turn around. I don't feel it will be sufficient enough to bring there sales up close to the top brands, but it will be enough for them to sustain a place in the US market. With the new Grand Vitara, the next gen Daewoos, and I am really hoping they bring the Swift over here, they should do just fine.

And to answer your question from the other thread Mr. Burns:

I do like Hyundai, but I wouldn't just yet call me a fan of theirs. I do like their new designs (Tucson, Sonata), and their vehicles seem to be getting better with each redesign. Who knows, maybe I will end up in a Hyundai one day. Well I will next year, but I mean beyond that, depending on my experiences with the brand.

I still prefer Ford/GM (Ford more specifically) over other brands, and still support them, but I still like imports as well, and if I felt there was an import to better suit my tastes over a domestic, I would take it in a minute. I would not hold myself in one brand, or solely in domestics or imports.

My sigs will switch between domestics and imports.
Your post really made me laugh.

[gwwyjjliu]

Originally Posted by Parkwood60

I really miss the old Impulse, besides the Axiom, which I agree was kinda cool too. That old Impluse, first generation, took parts from the already 10 year old Opel Cadet/Chevy Chevette/Isuzu I-mark and reshuffled them to make a viable sports coupe. Handling by Lotus, don't you know.

The second generation was based on the new front drive Cadet/I-mark chassis, but added all wheel drive and a 16 valve turbo/intercooled motor. That was a car that never got its due. Also the Turbo Chevy Spectrum/I-Mark RS 16 valve was a viable competitor for the VW GTI, but good luck finding one of those left in good condition.

Too bad for Isuzu. The '80's era Impulse was one of the sweetest looking cars on the road. With styling by Giugiaro, it was way ahead of its time.

[img]http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=isuzu+impulse/v=2/SID=w/l=IVS/SIG=12d9ob55s/EXP=1127806129/*-http%3A//www.floquil.com/tes_cds/gallery_img_sm/impulse.jpg[/img]

[tom3]

They used to make an excellent small diesel engine.

[griswold44]

Isuzu as a corporation won't go, as they are the worlds largest Diesel engine producer.

[Mr. Burns]

Originally Posted by ElmerMCR

I predict Isuzu will be gone within the next couple of years or so. Suzuki I fell will make a turn around. I don't feel it will be sufficient enough to bring there sales up close to the top brands, but it will be enough for them to sustain a place in the US market. With the new Grand Vitara, the next gen Daewoos, and I am really hoping they bring the Swift over here, they should do just fine.

And to answer your question from the other thread Mr. Burns:

I do like Hyundai, but I wouldn't just yet call me a fan of theirs. I do like their new designs (Tucson, Sonata), and their vehicles seem to be getting better with each redesign. Who knows, maybe I will end up in a Hyundai one day. Well I will next year, but I mean beyond that, depending on my experiences with the brand.

I still prefer Ford/GM (Ford more specifically) over other brands, and still support them, but I still like imports as well, and if I felt there was an import to better suit my tastes over a domestic, I would take it in a minute. I would not hold myself in one brand, or solely in domestics or imports.

My sigs will switch between domestics and imports.
Your post really made me laugh.

lol, anyways i agree hyundai is starting to do really well, i especially like their new sonata, i feel it is a very competitive product and is something GM should have done with the malibu.

[SonicAerio]

Originally Posted by ElmerMCR

I predict Isuzu will be gone within the next couple of years or so. Suzuki I fell will make a turn around. I don't feel it will be sufficient enough to bring there sales up close to the top brands, but it will be enough for them to sustain a place in the US market. With the new Grand Vitara, the next gen Daewoos, and I am really hoping they bring the Swift over here, they should do just fine.

And to answer your question from the other thread Mr. Burns:

I do like Hyundai, but I wouldn't just yet call me a fan of theirs. I do like their new designs (Tucson, Sonata), and their vehicles seem to be getting better with each redesign. Who knows, maybe I will end up in a Hyundai one day. Well I will next year, but I mean beyond that, depending on my experiences with the brand.

I still prefer Ford/GM (Ford more specifically) over other brands, and still support them, but I still like imports as well, and if I felt there was an import to better suit my tastes over a domestic, I would take it in a minute. I would not hold myself in one brand, or solely in domestics or imports.

Very well put...I agree with you completely...fan of all markets/types/models....but I do prefer imports over domestics