Isuzu Philippines marks 15th Inaugural Anniversary by highlighting products' strengths, company history
July 30, 2012
CELEBRATING its 15th Inaugural Anniversary, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) on the eve of its milestone marked the occasion by highlighting the values offered by its products.
IPC, which has its manufacturing plant at the Laguna Technopark in Biñan, was formally inaugurated by then-President Fidel V. Ramos on July 31, 1997. The company was established in 1995 and had started its operations in 1996, during the height of the Philippine automotive industry’s performance. But the Isuzu brand has been present in the Philippines since the 1950s through its trucks, and had continued on through the decades serving Filipinos. Under the IPC banner, Isuzu had progressed along with the development of the country’s automotive industry.
At the anniversary event recently held at the Makati Shangri-La, IPC stressed the key values—dependability, reliability, durability, cost efficiency, responsibility and excellence—that are exemplified by Isuzu vehicles and its core practices.
“Over the 15 years that Isuzu Philippines Corporation has been operating, we have introduced vehicles that Filipinos have counted on for their business use and personal enjoyment,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki. “As we celebrate our 15th year milestone, Isuzu will continue to deliver such quality products in the many more years to come.”
Value vehicles
Representing the value of dependability is the Isuzu NHR. The NHR belongs to the brand’s N- Series models, which have set a record in the Philippines by topping the light-duty truck category since 1999, a run of 13 consecutive years. This could only prove that the NHR is a truck that Filipino businesses can depend on, highly capable of serving the transport requirements of various industries. The N-Series is truly a Profit Partner.
To illustrate reliability and the Filipino value of devotion to family, IPC highlighted the strengths of the Isuzu Crosswind. One of the main products that have led the Isuzu brand to immense success in the Philippines, the Crosswind’s appeal lies in its versatility, seating capacity and convenience features that allow Filipino families to travel together and to Drive with Confidence. The Crosswind was first introduced in 2001, and thanks to numerous innovations and upgrades, the model has remained popular and relevant to Filipino families.
Capturing the value of durability is the Isuzu D-MAX. The company’s much-loved pickup truck model has proven it can deliver to the needs of entrepreneurs as well as people who lead active lifestyles through the numerous advantages that it offers. The D-MAX’s mix of good styling, functional features, and the capability to tackle rough terrain means the vehicle could truly be relied on, and that its Possibilities are Endless.
Embodying the value of cost efficiency is Isuzu’s flagship model, the Alterra. Boasting a host of luxury features, versatile seating capacity, a fuel-efficient and clean diesel engine, and off-road capacity, the Alterra’s solid performance and prestigious image rival vehicles that are above its price range. For Filipino families who need a vehicle for urban and long-distance use, the Alterra is quite perfect for the Journeys that Matter.
Model evolution
IPC’s 15-year existence brought to Filipinos several important vehicle models. The company’s Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) lineup in 1997 consisted of the Isuzu Trooper SUV, Isuzu TF Series Fuego pickup and the bestselling Isuzu Hi-Lander AUV. The Trooper secured the Isuzu brand’s prestigious image, the Fuego the company’s reputation for workhorse vehicles, and the Hi-Lander—which had consistently topped its segment—endeared Isuzu to a large percentage of the market.
In 2001, the Hi-Lander bowed to the new Crosswind, which featured a more modern body, improved mechanical parts and updated features. From its introduction, the Crosswind transformed into several models that vary in trim level, with some gaining many class-leading features while retaining the vehicle’s functionality.
The TF Series Fuego evolved into the D-MAX in 2003. Sporting a newly designed larger body, the D-MAX is fitted with a more powerful and advanced diesel engine. Like the Crosswind, the D-MAX produced several variants that could suit businesses or personal use. Almost a decade since its introduction, the D-MAX remains as one of the best-selling pickups in the country.
The Trooper’s elegance and luxury paved the way for the Alterra, which debuted in 2006. Like the Trooper, the Alterra served as Isuzu’s flagship model, and is equipped with numerous premium features that best its competitors as well as models that belong to a higher segment. In its 2013 version, the Alterra promises to boost IPC’s position in the country’s competitive SUV segment.
Meanwhile, IPC’s Passenger Van, N-Series light-duty trucks, F-Series, C-Series and E-Series mid- to heavy-duty trucks, as well as various bus models, have also recorded solid sales performances in their respective segments. This testifies to the market’s discernment that brand-new Isuzu trucks and buses offer tremendous advantages over secondhand units.
Looking back
Besides posting significant sales figures and addressing the varied transportation requirements of the Philippine auto market, IPC has numerous other achievements in the last 15 years.
IPC has earned many accolades and awards, as well as several global citations, given by leading organizations and media outfits for its efforts and initiatives that impact management processes, the environment, and various local communities. The company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs, in particular, have been effective in uplifting societal and environmental concerns.
In 1997, Isuzu started with 11 dealerships, with the number almost doubling at present to 21. A decade after IPC‘s inauguration, the company built its 100,000th unit—one of the best-selling N-Series variants, the NHR. Recently, its 150,000th vehicle rolled out of the factory floors.
Over the years the company also reversed the perception on diesel engines by introducing fuel-efficient power plants that comply with strict European emission standards. It contributed heavily as well in the local auto market’s shift from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, which in 1997 stood at more than a 50-percent share to the opposite ratio at present.
In the past 15 years, IPC has been significantly instrumental in changing the Philippines’ vehicle landscape, and the company appears all set to continue achieving more milestones in the years to come.