Isuzu Finally Calls It Quits In The U.S. Market

Call it the classic long goodbye. Isuzu has announced it will call a halt to North American SUV sales in January 2009, but the news shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to anyone who’s been watching Isuzu of late.

Fact is, Isuzu’s fortunes have been on the wane for some while now as its long-term tie-up with General Motors has slowly unraveled and it’s been forced to rely on rebadged GM vehicles to keep sales alive.

It’s a sad finale for a Japanese company that once built a whole batch of cool-looking enthusiast cars, such as the early '80s Impulse coupe and later I-Mark and Stylus sedans. A company that turned its hand to some very well received show cars, the 1989 4200R, the 1993 VehiCROSS and 2001 GBX, to name but three. A company that later forged a successful business building SUVs such as the Trooper, Rodeo and Axiom until the economics of a harsh business environment dictated otherwise.

Tuscani27 - 4/11/2008 3:21:15 PM

+12 Boost

www.oldnews.com

http://www.autospies.com/news/Bye-Bye-Isuzu-And-Good-Riddance-26025/

Homer008 - 4/12/2008 12:55:22 AM

0 Boost

old news.

NItePhire - 4/11/2008 3:31:23 PM

-11 Boost

This will only be news on January 1st 2009.

carguy68 - 4/11/2008 3:50:34 PM

+9 Boost

it all went down when it got together with gm

Homer008 - 4/12/2008 12:57:49 AM

+3 Boost

Exactly. I remember Isuzu's I-Mark (Geo Storm) sold very well, not to mention Rodeos and Trooper until GM started to intervene. Luckily for Isuzu, Toyota now has the stake and jointly designing a diesel engine w/Isuzu.

lexusis350 - 4/11/2008 4:30:28 PM

+7 Boost

We know! This same article was posted months ago.

EL34 - 4/11/2008 4:33:38 PM

-12 Boost

If there ever were two cars I would say look alike it's the Isuzu VehiCROSS and the Nissan GTR :-/

lexusrox123 - 4/11/2008 6:43:49 PM

+4 Boost

i hope i wont become blind like you...

sold2early - 4/12/2008 3:09:44 PM

+2 Boost

Go easy on EL; he still thinks it's 1941.

Airliner - 4/11/2008 9:28:46 PM

+1 Boost

Since GM seems to be on a comeback swing, I think that they should have allowed Isuzu to bring back their own Japanese products. The General however, is far too proud to let this happen and therefore we are here. Great Move GM... Unlike Oldsmobile, Isuzu had a fighting chance in this country but you smothered them with the lousiest of your products!! This is how you repay the company that has carried you in your commercial vehicle department with America’s #1 selling low cab forward truck “Every Year” since 1986?? Wow, I almost sound like I work for Isuzu… I don’t, I just remember Great Isuzu models that were fun to toss around (Amigo, Impulse, Trooper).

Homer008 - 4/12/2008 1:01:33 AM

+1 Boost

Yes, Isuzu Impulse was nice.

Bored - 4/12/2008 2:08:36 AM

+6 Boost

This news is so old that I want to DE-BOOST this article!

GinsterCQ - 4/12/2008 10:25:31 AM

+3 Boost

I know this is a repost and old news, but it's really a sad one. I had a 90's Trooper, and that truck was an awesome truck. Before GM got involved, they had a great reputation for reliable, rugged vehicles.

DieselRules - 4/12/2008 10:48:05 AM

+2 Boost

Isuzu surviving would compete with cars GM imports from the Daewoo plant in Korea that GM jointly bought with Suzuki.