Isuzu pickups and trucks top the charts

The Isuzu Fuego and the newly launched Isuzu D-MAX topped the chart as the country’s favorite pickups. The December figures from the Truck Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (TMA) reflected a 30.2 percent market share for the Fuego and D-MAX in the combined 4x4 and 4x2 pickup category. Nissan and Mitsubishi placed second and third in the segment with 28.9 percent and 18.4 percent market share, respectively.

Boasting of perfectly-engineered design and style, a beastly engine and innovative exterior and interior features, the D-MAX is the vehicle of choice in terms of elegance, luxury and undisputed power. It redefines expectations as it fuses unmatched durability and design onto direct injection diesel technology Isuzu is known for.

Isuzu’s signature vehicle reliability and power is expressed in the D-MAX with its 3.0 liter 4JH1-TC direct injection turbo intercooler diesel engine providing high output as well as excellent fuel economy. It generates a maximum power of 130hp, with torque of 28.5 kg.m (manual) and 30 kg.m (automatic).

For Category 3 (light trucks with gross vehicle weight of 3,000 to 6,000 kgs), Isuzu also dominated in December with a market share of 59.1 percent. As a result of the excellent truck sales performance, Isuzu ranked first in the truck category for the year 2003 by selling a total of 792 units (56.8 percent).

Mr. Ken Takashima, VP for sales and marketing of Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), is very confident that the December sales achievement of Isuzu will continue. He further expressed that Isuzu aims to be the consistent market leader in the truck category — with their dependable, hardworking and environment-friendly trucks.

Isuzu expects to perform even better with exciting offerings that will hit the market in the months to come. Mr. Takashima stated, "IPC will continuously review the products it offers and attune them to market preferences to provide top quality commercial vehicles to the Filipino market — which is our commitment to our customers, employees and to the society in general. The public can also look forward to our diesel-powered vehicles, specifically our Crosswind AUV, Trooper SUV and the D-MAX pickup to be more stylish, value-laden, ever-reliable and fuel efficient."