Profile : Isuzu Company

Though founded in 1910, Isuzu Motors did not receive its now-familiar moniker until 1949.

Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co., and British-based Wolseley Motors made an agreement to produce automobiles in 1918, resulting in the A-9 a couple of years later. A later truck, based on the A-9, was named "Isuzu" by the Japanese Ministry of Trade. Isuzu Motors would be created shortly after the merger of Ishikawajima Automotive Works and Dot Automobile Manufacturing.

Worldwide and in Japan, Isuzu is primarily known for its trucks. Currently it dominates the light to medium duty truck segments. In 1971, though, it took a stab at the U.S. car market after pairing up with General Motors. GM would later purchase controlling shares of the company. Isuzu would later establish a joint venture with Subaru in 1987.

The Chevrolet LUV, a light pickup, was Isuzu's first vehicle in the U.S. The Isuzu Impulse, marketed also as the Piazza and Storm elsewhere in the world, was the automaker's first car to be sold in the U.S. Later the company would focus strictly on trucks and SUVs with such vehicles as the Rodeo, Trooper, and Axiom.



The U.S. Isuzu lineup currently is composed of the Ascender SUV and i-series pickups, both rebadged General Motors vehicles. The automaker has recently purchased land in Alabama while pursuing alliances with Toyota. Last year, General Motors reduced its shares with the automaker.