Posted on 01/30/2008 7:44:00 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
DETROIT (AP) — The company that developed one of the first mid-sized sport utility vehicles and brought you an ad campaign with a fibbing salesman says it will stop selling new passenger vehicles in North America.
Isuzu Motors Ltd. said Wednesday it will end distribution of its sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks starting Jan. 31, 2009.
The Japanese company blamed the move on General Motors Corp. ceasing production for Isuzu of the Ascender sport utility vehicle and i-290 and i-370 pickup trucks.
"It has always been our intention to remain in the U.S. market," Terry Maloney, Isuzu president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "However, we were unable to secure any commercially viable replacements for these vehicles."
Isuzu spokesman Chip Letzgus would give no more details about the decision Wednesday, saying the company was still talking to dealers and employees. He said Isuzu will likely release further details later this week.
Isuzu sold only 7,098 vehicles in the U.S. in 2007, down nearly 18 percent from the previous year, according to Autodata Corp.
The company said in a statement that it will back its products and dealers for years to come, honoring all product warranties and roadside assistance programs.
Isuzu will offer all current U.S. vehicle dealers the chance to stay on as service-only dealers, the company said.
"Isuzu will discontinue the sales of vehicles only. Our parts and service operation will remain fully functional," Maloney's statement said. "We expect the vast majority of our dealers will continue as service-only dealers."
GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson would not comment on Isuzu and said the company has not made an announcement on whether it will stop producing its vehicles. The Detroit-based GM makes the Ascender at its plant in Moraine, Ohio, near Dayton, and the pickups are manufactured at a factory in Shreveport, La.
The Ascender is a mid-sized sport utility vehicle similar to a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, while the two pickups are similar to the mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado.
John Rogin, who owns Detroit-area Isuzu, Suzuki and GM dealerships, said he was blindsided by the news Wednesday. He said Isuzu vehicles have always been reliable and have a cult-like following among some owners.
Zoo is pulling the plug.
Joe Isuzu was hillarious!
I traded my Isuzu Rodeo for a Mitsubishi Spyder last year.
I love the convertible but I miss the Rodeo, it was a great vehicle.
My cousin will be sad too. She has driven Troopers for years.
Dang. I was hoping that they’d bring back their diesel pickup.
Isuzu Isbyebye.
“that’s OK, I can’t say Cheveray”
Has nothing to do with this, but thinking of Joe Izuzu makes me think of that.
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve had 3 Isuzus over the past 22 years. They put the Energizer Bunny to shame. My ‘96 Trooper has over 154,000 miles on it and shows no signs of stopping. It’s a real, honest-to-goodness truck; not some overgrown passenger car trying to look like an SUV.
Mt wife drives a Rodeo, with only 114K miles, it is just getting broke in.... She loves it.
I got into two major accidents with my Rodeo, other drivers fault. The Zoo did very well, and I miss having it. It had great room and gas mileage. Probably my fave.
My favorite was the one where he was taunting the Beefeater in London: "...fit for a King! Or a Queen, if that's all you've got."
"We're shutting it down...you have myyyyy word on it."
Oh, boy, I was so glad to get rid of my Isuzu Trooper, which reminded me so much of the Soviet built luxury cars that KGB drove you in to their first class accomodations in Lyublanka!
Those late 80’s diesels were some sure nuff tanks.
I had a 95 Rodeo that I took to 220K miles.
It wasn't a great truck in many ways. The spare tire holder in the back was a completely absurd design. The back seat did not fold flat. A lot of little things wore out over time.
But it was a tank. It ran long and ran well.
Used to have a TrooperII, loved it.
Isuzu I-Mark — worst car ever. 0-60ish in about 20 seconds. Only merge onto the freeway on downhill ramps — uphill ramps would cause the car to start rolling backwards under full “throttle.”
I would have bet no one could have found this picture or remember. Great job.
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