Isuzu Motors, the Japanese auto maker, has started the local assembly of its MU-& Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in the Indian auto market. In order to assemble its models in the Indian auto market, the company has entered into a collaboration with Hindustan Motors under which the latter is performing as contract manufacturer for Isuzu using its Thiruvallur facility. The Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units of MU-7 will be imported from Thailand, wherein the Japanese auto company was earlier assembling the D-Max pick-up and MU-7. The price of locally assembled BS4 compliant MU-7 starts from Rs. 22.3 lakh, whereas the BS3 complaint model can be purchased for Rs. 22 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom).
Expressing his delight on the recent development, the Managing Director for Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd, Takashi Kikuchi was quoted as saying, “We are extremely happy to begin the local assembly of our products in India. It is the culmination of our extensive research over the last 3 years to understand the Indian market. India is a key region in Isuzu’s global growth strategy for its emerging markets and as an important manufacturing hub in the future. In the next 5 years, our focus will be to accelerate our business and establish Isuzu as an important player in the pickup trucks and utility vehicles market in India.”
On its future plans considering the Indian auto market, Isuzu Motors is planning to open around 60 dealerships be the end of 2016. Currently, the company has 8 showrooms in the southern part of India and will now target metropolitans like Delhi and Mumbai. Also, the car maker is planning to establish its own production plant in the country by 2016 and owing to the same, it has proposed an investment worth Rs. 3000 crore.
Sources close to the development process have revealed that this manufacturing unit will have a capacity to roll out 1.2 lakh units every year. Earlier, the company introduced its MU-7 SUV in February 2013 as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). Interestingly, MU-7 happens to be a premium seven-seater model, which comes incorporated with a four-cylinder, 2999 cc common-rail turbo diesel engine. The maximum power produced by this engine stands at 160 bhp with a peak torque of 360 Nm.
