Isuzu to expand India dealer network, launches pick-up trucks

Company launched three variants of pick-up trucks under the D-Max range

Japan's Isuzu Motors aims to expand its dealer network in India six-fold to about 60 outlets in the country by the end of the next financial year.

The company, which opened its first dealership in North India in Delhi today, also launched three variants of pick-up trucks under the D-Max range in the National Capital Region at an introductory price of Rs 5.89 lakh, Rs 6.09 lakh and Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom NCR).

"The Delhi outlet is our 10th dealership in the country. We plan to expand the number to 60 by the end of 2015-16 to increase our presence in the country," Isuzu Motors India Managing Director Takashi Kikuchi told reporters here.

The company will add dealerships in Noida, Jaipur and Ludhiana by the end of this financial year. It plans to open outlets in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Kanpur and Udaipur by the end of next year.

"We are extremely happy to open our first outlet in North India. North is an important region for us, contributing to around 30 per cent of total pick-up sales in the country," Kikuchi said.

The company, which is setting up a manufacturing plant in the country at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore, aims to start production at the facility in 2016.

"To begin with, we will start with a production capacity of 50,000 units and later scale it up to over 1 lakh units per annum," Kikuchi said.

Currently, the company produces the pick-up range at Hindustan Motors' Chennai facility.