Inaugurating the 50,000 units a year plant, which can be scaled up to 1.20 lakh units a year, N Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh said that the factory will go a long way in creating the automotive eco-system in the state. Isuzu has invested Rs. 3,000 crore in this plant. “Isuzu and several other MNCs have preferred in Sri City because of the world class infrastructure and excellent support exte-nded by the Sri City management”. “We will start commercial production from April 2016, with an initial capacity of 1,20,000 units per year”. Isuzu Motors President Masanori Katayama in his address during inauguration said the new plant will not only cater to requirements of the growing Indian market, but will also serve as a key manufacturing hub for Isuzu’s global operations. According to the company, D-Max V-Cross is India’s first adventure utility vehicle.
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While the V-Cross is based on the same underpinnings as Chevrolet’s Trailblazer SUV, the D-Max’s interiors are also in line with the SUV. “The plant will also focus on safety, quality and Isuzu’s commitment to environment”, Isuzu Motor Ltd. said in a statement. The Japanese automaker today rolled out its India-made D-Max V-Cross pick-up from the newly-launched facility here. “Let us look at the development on April 30”, said Shankar Srinivas, senior general manager, communications, at Isuzu Motors India.
Eight component suppliers of Isuzu Motors will set up their operations at Sri City, he added.
Extending its range of pick-ups, Isuzu Motors India revealed the next-generation D-Max V-Cross (4×4) double-cab pick-up at the Auto Expo in February.
Mr. Hiroyasu Miura, chairman, Isuzu Motors India Pvt.
Both the vehicles will come with about 70 per cent localisation as the company roped in about 150 suppliers in a bid to be cost-competitive in the Indian market. “We are test marketing the new product in India and we have no target to say at this point of time”, he said.
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Expanding cities and faster last-mile delivery has seen the 2- to 3.5-tonne GVW pick-up market grow in India.
