Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd (IMSB) shared today that the company has recorded a major milestone of reaching the production of 100,000 units of CKD trucks in the first quarter of this year. The achievement was marked by the Isuzu ELF and FORWARD model series – the company’s popular selling models which were rolled out from the Isuzu Hicom Malaysia Sdn Bhd (IHM) production facility in Pekan.
Isuzu Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer, Tomoyuki Yamaguchi shared, “Isuzu is extremely pleased to have achieved and surpassed the production of 100,000 truck units in Malaysia. To us, this is more than a production milestone. It is a momentous landmark in the journey of our company, one that represents the culmination of every initiative that we have tirelessly pursued in corporate synergies, product strategy and market leadership.
“This is also a solid reaffirmation of our market leadership and brand significance in which Isuzu has been owning the top spot for overall commercial vehicle brand for 11 consecutive years and light-duty truck brand for 15 consecutive years in this market.”
IMSB began the local production of the ELF and FORWARD models back in 2007 when the IHM production synergy was formed. In that year, the company produced 3,362 unit of trucks and since then it has been steadily increasing its lead in the industry. Since 2007 till now, IMSB had recorded its best two production years in 2022 with 7,417 units and 2023 with 7,334 units.
The total cumulative number of IMSB trucks that have been produced and rolled out from IHM since 2007 up till the second quarter of this year stands at 101,733 units.
Meanwhile, Isuzu Hicom Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s Chief Executive Officer, Koshi Yamaguchi commented, “Our production facility has been continuously maintaining strict inspection and quality control according to global standards. The ongoing strategic coordination and planning between IHM and Isuzu Malaysia, even during the pandemic which had caused massive disruptions to global supply chain, had ensured our ability to deliver high production in the most difficult and unprecedented market condition. And this paid off when we recorded our highest truck production figure in 2022!”
In 2010, the Isuzu N-Series Euro I trucks were locally-produced and introduced, and four years later in 2014, IMSB took a substantial step by embarking on a full model change to Euro II standard vehicles.
IMSB’s journey to the historic feat of 100,000 trucks in local production had also been shaped by significant milestones that underlined the progression from Euro I to Euro IV / Euro V product development and introduction in Malaysia.
As a testament of IHM’s stringent quality control, the company received its ECE Regulations Compliance accreditation in 2017 for sound adherence to technical regulations based on global standards, specifically concerning the design, safety and environmental performance of vehicles and components.
Following that in 2019, IMSB introduced the ELF Crew Cab and ELF Smoother Series, delivering enhanced versatility, performance and efficiency for customers. Unrestrained by the pandemic, IMSB continued to manufacture and launch the Euro III ELF range equipped with the Isuzu Safety Plus platformed for maximized safety.
And most recently last year the company introduced the Euro IV ELF range and a Euro V FVR240 Smoother model which further marked Isuzu’s enhanced innovation and capability in local production, as well as its pivotal step towards sustainable logistics in Malaysia.
“We credit our success in reaching and exceeding 100,000 CKD trucks to two decades of continuous committed work, strong partner collaboration, innovation growth and remarkable customer support which we are always grateful for,” Tomoyuki Yamaguchi added.
Moving forward, Isuzu has expressed its plan to further providing quality commercial vehicles in alignment with the country’s automotive policy and to support its goal on sustainable and efficient logistics. On this note, it plans to introduce a wider range of Euro V models in the near future, bringing positive changes and reiterate its commitment to customers, partners and the industry.
For more details on Isuzu’s range of vehicles, please visit www.isuzu.net.my,
and https://www.facebook.com/IsuzuTrucksMalaysia