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Friday, March 29, 2024

Isuzu PH set to start D-Max 3.0 assembly

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Isuzu Philippines Corp. will start the local production of pickup truck D-Max 3.0 in Laguna province in April 2016, a top executive said Thursday.

“This is to further expand our market share from 15 percent in the pickup market to 20 percent,” Isuzu Philippines president Hajime Koso said during the launch of the sports utility vehicle mu-X 3.0 and D-Max 3.0 at the Blue Leaf Filipinas in Pasay City.

The company said its automotive plant in Biñan, Laguna was expected to produce around 300 to 400 D-Max 3.0 units a month, with the option to increase the output once sales start to pick up. 

The Isuzu plant has the capacity to assemble 15,000 units yearly on a single shift. Capacity utilization, at present, is at 12,000 units.

Koso said the plant would go on a double shift if demand for the D-Max increased.

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He said the existing facility could accommodate the local assembly of D-Max 3.0 vehicles.

Isuzu hit a milestone this month for reaching the 200,000 sales mark.

Isuzu delivers both completely-knocked down and completely built-up units from its manufacturing plants in Asia.

D-Max 3.0 and mu-X are currently imported from Thailand.

The company also announced it would increase the local content for the D-Max 2.5 and the 3.0 liter units to more than 20 percent.

Isuzu Philippines assistant division head for marketing Joseph Bautista said the company was currently in talks with Isuzu parts manufacturers to produce chassis frame to add to the local content.

The company said D-Max 3.0 and mu-X 3.0, which had more power than previous versions, would have a price premium of P40,000.

“While our current D-Max and mu-X line-up is very much appreciated by the market, there are those who wish to have more power. Thus, we are giving our customers the freedom to choose – between our current 2.5-liter engine and the new 3.0 VGS Turbo variant,” Koso said.

The Isuzu D-Max and mu-X 3.0 VGS Turbo variants are now available in all authorized Isuzu dealership across the country.

Isuzu dealerships are located in Quezon City, Pasig City, Manila, Makati and Alabang, Muntinlupa City. 

Provincial dealerships are located in Isabela, Pangasinan, Cabanatuan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, San Pablo, Bacolod, Iloilo, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.

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