Market leader Isuzu gears up

September 12, 2022

Isuzu Motors South Africa recently held its Truck Solutions Expo. DANIE BOTHA was there to find out more about the company’s comprehensive range of commercial vehicles, applications covering multiple industry segments, innovative business solutions, and evolution to ensuring a greener future for generations to come.

A raft of new models included a new range of truck tractors, supplemented with more power, torque, and gears for select models. Increased load capacities for a few derivatives and some beefed-up 4×4 offerings have been brought to market, along with some discreet facelifts.

These are just some of the measures introduced as part of the company’s drive to provide and a ready solution for every trucking requirement and retain the title of SA’s top-selling truck brand, says Craig Uren, Isuzu’s senior vice president: revenue generation for SACU markets.

“As expected, unit sales recently took a knock because of Covid supply shortages, but in 2021 and 2022 we’ve been catching up. By 2023 we believe the overall truck market will stabilise to pre-pandemic levels – that is about 30 000 units per year,” says Uren.

“At the moment we are about 3.5% behind the pre-pandemic targets, but we know this is not a one-day game; our longer-term projections clearly indicate a steady improvement in unit sales,” he adds.

The latest range of Isuzu trucks caters to a wide variety of clients, from construction applications and government use to cold distribution, vehicle recovery, and 4×4 solutions.

The F-Series has been given a marked hike in power and torque. The FVM model, for example, now boasts 221 kW and 980 Nm of torque, compared to the previous model’s 176 kW and 706 Nm. A new nine-speed gearbox has also been fitted to handle the extra power.

On top of this, the F-Series now has an upgraded 90 Amp alternator and a bigger battery. The Allison Auto 3500 gearbox fitted to the FVZ now comes standard with a basic diagnostics system.

The N- and F-Series, meanwhile, have received a mild facelift, featuring a new grille and model badging. Inside the cab, there is a new steering wheel and a USB port. On the NLR and NMR models the chassis’ side members have been thickened from 4 to 5.3 mm.

The front axle load capacity for the NQR model has been increased from 3.1 to 3.5 tonnes. Cooper mud or all-terrain tyres can now be ordered for NPS derivatives, while the behemoth FTS 750 4×4 double cab is fitted with massive Goodyear off-road tyres.

In some derivatives, new exhaust gas emission systems save costs by ensuring that expensive urea like AdBlue is no longer required.

So what about the future? “With the updated offerings we are aiming to retain our number one sales position. Meanwhile, we are testing and developing a variety of alternative propulsion options, tailor-made for African conditions,” explains Uren.

This includes compressed natural gas (CNG) technology, hybrid drivetrains with combined electric and internal combustion units, dual fuel system drivetrains, and battery electric drivetrains.

“The quality of our products remains a top priority for us, and this is not negotiable,” asserts Uren. “This includes the quality of our sales and service teams. Acquiring the ideal truck for a specific professional application is vital for any business; a custom-built cargo body needs to match the payload and the intended purpose of the truck.”

Providing variable ownership solutions is another long-term priority, so Isuzu now offers a variable warranty option, designed around the needs of short, medium, or long-haul operators.

New Isuzu trucks now come standard with the brand’s Insight telematics system, providing a comprehensive fleet management solution. In partnership with MiX Telematics, the system offers fleet owners real-time data about their vehicles and drivers.

“We offer Isuzu operators a comprehensive array of solutions. We are very much in this for the long run, in partnership with our national network of 35 truck dealers,” emphasises Uren.