Isuzu posts record profits
Automotive News May 21, 2007 - 1:00 am

TOKYO -- In the fiscal year that ended March 31, operating profits at Isuzu Motors Ltd. rose 18.0 percent to a record Ñ106.98 billion, or $906.2 million at current exchange rates. Revenues rose 5.1 percent to $14.09 billion. Truck sales grew 4.5 percent to 646,824.

Profits rose mostly on cost cutting. In addition, currency gains covered the cost of several new product launches. Higher, more profitable sales offset higher raw material prices.

In the current fiscal year that began April 1, Isuzu predicts revenues will decline 1.8 percent, operating profits will tumble 23.6 percent, net profits will slide 36.8 percent, and sales in Japan will fall 24.0 percent.


GM will reduce Isuzu diesels ... now if they'd start producing small diesel engines!
Automotive News May 21, 2007 - 1:00 am

TOKYO -- General Motors plans to install fewer Isuzu-designed diesel engines in its vehicles over the next 12 months.

Isuzu Motors Ltd. says that, based largely on its GM contracts, it expects to produce 179,000 diesel engines at DMAX Ltd., of Moraine, Ohio, in the fiscal year that began April 1. That would be down 15.6 percent from 212,000 in the fiscal year that ended March 31 and down from 202,000 the fiscal year before that.

DMAX builds a 6.6-liter V-8 diesel used in full-sized GM pickups and SUVs. GM owns 60 percent of DMAX and Isuzu the rest.

Yeah....why would anyone want a small, longer lasting (than gas engine), more fuel effeicient (per gallon) diesel?