ISUZU's AP plant and D-MAX utility vehicle rolled out

The new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant of ISUZU Motors Indian Private Limited (IMI), set up in Sri City was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday.

The new generation ISUZU D-MAX V-Cross-India's first adventure utility vehicle was also rolled out of the plant by the chief minister and Masanori Katayama, president of ISUZU Motors Limited, to mark the commencement of production at the new facility.

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The plant is spread over an area of 107 acres and has a production capacity of 50,000 units that can be scaled up to 120,000 units in future, according to the company.

The new generation of ISUZU D-MAX pick-ups will be manufactured at the plant with 70 per cent localisation at the state of production that will be increased in future. It will also consider export of vehicles manufactured at this plant to other markets, according to the company. "The bookings for the new generation ISUZU vehicles will soon be started followed by deliveries at ISUZU dealerships all over India," the company said.

The company proposes a cumulative investment of Rs 3,000 crore with a potential employment to 3,000 people in this facility.

Speaking at the plant inauguration, Masanori Katayama said: "We are very happy to start our local manufacturing operations in India. India is one of the biggest automobile markets and also one of the fastest growing economies in the world. India is a key part of ISUZU Motors' global growth strategy. This new plant in India will not only cater to the requirements of the growing Indian market, but in future it will also serve as a key manufacturing hub for ISUZU's global operations."

The company chairman Hroyasu Miura said the globally proven ISUZU D-MAX pickups will be manufactured at this plant. "We have found Indian suppliers to be capable of meeting Isuzu's global quality standards and we will follow a high localisation strategy for the manufacturing operations in India," Miura said.

Isuzu has started the local manufacturing operations with a tie-up with 120 suppliers, including Tier-1 and 2 suppliers, for supplying auto-components for vehicles manufactured in India.