Isuzu Motors of Japan on Tuesday launched its globally successful pick-up truck D-Max in the domestic market.
The D-Max range comprises three models: D-Max single cab will be priced at an introductory price of Rs.5.99 lakh, D-Max space cab at Rs.6.19 lakh for the flat deck variant, while the arched deck variant will be priced at Rs.7.09 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Mumbai).
Speaking at the launch, Isuzu Motors India Managing Director Takashi Kikuchi said, “in India, the pick-up truck segment is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in commercial vehicle (CV), accounting for 35 per cent of the total CV market. We estimate India to become the world’s largest one-tonne pick-up truck market by 2023.’’D-Max has a 2,499 cc diesel engine with a 5-speed manual transmission, power steering, power windows, AC with heater and the like.
Isuzu Motors India Deputy Managing Director Shigeru Wakabayashi said the annual Indian pick-up market at two lakh units is expected to reach eight lakh units by 2023. “In 2013-14, the segment accounted for 35 per cent of total CV sales in India, and it is the only CV segment to record positive growth in a tough year for CVs,’’ he said.
Isuzu has a contract manufacturing agreement with Hindustan Motors Ltd. since August, 2012, and HML assembles CKD kits of Isuzu’s sport utility vehicle MU-7 and D-Max at its Thiruvallur plant in Chennai. Isuzu is now investing Rs.3,000 crore to set up a plant in SriCity in Andhra Pradesh, which will start commercial production in early 2016. The unit will have an initial capacity of 50,000 units.
