Isuzu's GM-derived product pipeline to run dry?

[nadepalma]

Souce: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...1/TOC01ARCHIVE

Will Isuzu's light-vehicle pipeline run dry?
By KATHY JACKSON | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published 07/31/06, 9:03 am et



LOS ANGELES -- General Motors' plan to cancel its mid-sized SUVs spells more trouble for Isuzu in this country.

Isuzu's five-seat Ascender, one of only two models it sells here, is derived from GM's mid-sized SUV platform.

GM and supplier sources have confirmed that the mid-sized SUV platform will be dropped in a few years, but no date has been set. GM has not commented on the matter.

Also produced from the platform are the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Saab 9-7X.

The demise of the Ascender would leave Isuzu's U.S. dealers with only the i-series pickup, which is derived from GM's small-pickup platform.

A GM source, who did not want to be identified, says there are no plans to give Isuzu a version of GM's new mid-sized crossovers. The source doubts that Isuzu will get a version of GM's redesigned small pickup, scheduled for the 2011 model year, to keep the i series in Isuzu's lineup.

So it looks as if Isuzu will run out of light vehicles to sell in the United States in 2010 at the latest.

Isuzu has not given its dealers any indication that it has new products on the drawing board.

"I have no comment on new product," Isuzu Motors America spokesman Chip Letzgus said. Asked about GM's plans to discontinue the TrailBlazer platform, he said that Isuzu "will cross that bridge when we get to it."

While Isuzu's light-vehicle business is declining, the company's commercial-vehicle business remains solid in the United States. Last year, it sold 15,787 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles here, up 0.5 percent.

Rebecca Lindland, senior market analyst for market researcher Global Insight, has Isuzu out of the light-vehicle business in the United States by the 2011 model year.

"We have not given them the next-generation Colorado or any of the new GM crossovers, and there are no suppliers who tell us they are bidding on Isuzu business," she says.

Isuzu's approximately 290 dealers are discouraged. They sold just 4,718 vehicles through June, a 37.9 percent decrease from year-ago numbers. The Ascender accounted for 58.5 percent of those sales.

Dealer Scott Lasher gave up his franchise near Sacramento, Calif., in April. In its place is a Kawasaki motorcycle store. "We were losing money on Isuzu," he says. "We found a better use for it."

Mike Donohue, owner of Big Red Isuzu in Norman, Okla., says his store is surviving on service work.

[nadepalma]

While I respect Isuzu's technical expertise on diesels, heavy trucks, etc, I can't help but feel that it's about time that GM end it's cooperation --- at least for now. Granted, they don't sell a whole hell of a lot of them per year and probably don't take up much production capacity at GM plants, but I just think that enough is enough. GM always gets beaten on cause they badge engineer a lot of products. The journalists are always giving them crap cause the GMT360s cover too many brands. So it seems like a no brainer that when GM's new mid-sized trucks come out (and hopefully they are more competitive) there won't be an Isuzu variant.

Besides, I've read that Isuzu was working on some bespoke product of their own some time back. Who knows if it will come to fruition or not. But fact of the matter is that if they don't have anything like this in place, Isuzu may just disapper from the US market altogether. And considering how crowded the market has gotten, this might not be a bad thing.

Just my two cents.

[zeobandit]

Oh well. The Izuzu models are just blatant rebadges anyway. Get them off the road.

[kenman923]

A decision to take Isuzu out of its misery is long overdue. If Isuzu is good at the heavy trucks and diesels, let them stick to that. They can concentrate on that as they try to reinvent themselves.

[ByTheLake]

Isuzu's five-seat Ascender ... is derived from GM's mid-sized SUV platform.

Derived from? Heck, isn't that straight-up Envoy sheetmetal?

So it looks as if Isuzu will run out of light vehicles to sell in the United States in 2010 at the latest.

No problem, I think they'll run out of customers long before 2010.

Joe Isuzu, rest in peace.

[mbukukanyau]

GM Should Buy Isuzu outright and Rebadge its trucks GMC... accross the Globe, and bring back the trooper

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

No problem, I think they'll run out of customers long before 2010.

Don't you think they'll run out of DEALERS about that time?

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

GM Should Buy Isuzu outright and Rebadge its trucks GMC... accross the Globe, and bring back the trooper

Why? The Isuzu name is more respected around the globe (North America aside) than the GMC badge. While there's no Trooper anymore, Isuzu does have its own products in other countries including the D-Max pickup and the Mu-7 SUV.

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by Hudson

Don't you think they'll run out of DEALERS about that time?

Yes, good point. Honestly, its hard not to feel bad for the Isuzu dealers that have been loyal and stood by this brand for so long, with such little new product to sell.

So, Isuzu stopped selling cars in '93 in the US. It may follow with light duty trucks. Can Isuzu survive selling only medium-duty trucks?

[MrMax]

I can't really feel sorry for them. Their products never looked like they were meant to sale. Their rebadge work was so lazily done that it was laughable.

Whats really funny though, is that if Toyota were to buy Isuzu, they would probably cooperate with them to make the alliance meaningful. (Subaru anyone?) So I say good riddance. No point in giving them an Outlook or Acadia to put a new grille on. GM needs to keep their models fresh and relevant. Adding Isuzu variants is counterproductive.

[Highlander]

I don't really give a crap about Isuzu. My problem is no GMT-360 (I think that's the right number?) replacement. What happened to all this talk about the next generation being a bit bigger than the standard, but not as big as the EXT, third row optional etc etc. There is still a place for truck based SUV's that aren't as big as a Tahoe or Suburban. It may not ever be the huge segment it once was, but I don't think abandoning it is wise either.

Given the recent birth of my third child, my Comp G is getting a bit full (three car seats take up some space you know), and the new crossovers are a bit too car-like or station wagon-like for me to get too excited.

[rubrduck]

Actually, The Coly/Canyon's are identical rebadges of the Isuzu's that are sold in Asia.
I think Isuzu should attack cheap niche market vehicles and be content with that. A cheap vehicross/amigo type 4X4 for a Wrangler alternative, A cheap 2 seat type pickup similar to the Chevy Borrego concept. Low volume cars like that would certainly help them more than the product their pushing now.

[01cavalier]

Isuzu has been on the decline for a number of years, they may as well back out of the US market, doesn't seem anyone will really notice.

[mkaresh]

Exactly. It's one of those "if a tree falls..." things.

I think they are still a player in the truck business, where some Chevrolets are rebadges of Isuzus.

[SUPERBADD75]

i never understood why GM didn't use Isuzu as an outlet for GMDAT vehicles in the U.S. Isuzu hasn't had a car in years, and they're about to have no vehicles. meanwhile, GMDAT has the capacity to build cars for America but (soon) nowhere to sell them with GM and Suzuki's relationship falling away. refresh the former Suzuki models, call them Isuzus, and rebuild the brand as a full line car company. they don't have to have a pickup to survive. if they want an SUV, take the Torrent away from Pontiac and give it to them. Isuzu could survive with a little effort.

[coaster.n3rd]

^Exactly, Pontiac does not need the Torrent. Unless Pontiac came out with something to compete with the Porsche Cayenne or that new Mazda, they do not need and SUV.