Automotive News, Jan 11. Just the part that applies to Isuzu:
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080111/ANA02/222138618Last month Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said Nissan and Chrysler had begun to discuss product-sharing options. Ghosn has made no secret of his desire to align Nissan and Renault SA, where he is also CEO, with a North American vehicle manufacturer.
Over a year ago, Nissan and Renault broke off talks with General Motors over a comprehensive three-way alliance. Ghosn has said Nissan and Renault still could seek a U.S. partner.
Nissan sold 79,443 Versas in the United States in 2007. The car, which comes in sedan and hatchback models, was introduced in 2006.
Nissan has similar OEM arrangements with other automakers. It buys and rebadges commercial vehicles from Mazda and
Isuzu and minicars from Mitsubishi and Suzuki. In reverse, it sells commercial vehicles to
Isuzu and minivans to Suzuki.
In 2008, Nissan will build a mid-sized pickup for Suzuki at Nissan's factory in Smyrna, Tenn.
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I agree it's weird. They keep expanding dealerships while not offering any new products.
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/ANA06/801140338/1078For some dealers, Isuzu franchise is a nice addition
Kathy Jackson and Ryan Beene, Automotive News, January 14, 200
LOS ANGELES ù Isuzu may be on the way to extinction in the United States, but its surprise effort to recruit dealers has turned up some enthusiastic takers.
Probably no brand this decade has fallen as far and as fast as Isuzu. Sales have plunged from more than 100,000 in 1999 to just over 7,000 in 2007.
Dealers averaged fewer than three sales per month in 2007. The product lineup is puny, only two rebadged General Motors vehicles, and nothing, apparently, is in the pipeline.
Some retailers say Isuzu is deliberately forcing dealers to quit, by starving them of new product, so it can pull out of the U.S. light-duty market.
Yet, amazingly, Isuzu Motors America last year said it was on the prowl for new stores. Company executives identified 40 markets where the brand is not represented or is underrepresented and said they planned to sign 40 to 50 new dealers.
Isuzu has signed 13 new dealers since it began its push to add retailers in late 2006, according to spokesman Chip Letzgus. Still, the total number of U.S. Isuzu dealers is dropping: from 227 in 2006 to 201 in 2007.
Letzgus declined to discuss the recruiting effort further though he said Isuzu wants about 225 dealers.
The interest is from used-car stores seeking to become new-vehicle dealers, as well as dealerships eager to add Isuzu service business ù all without a huge investment. Some dealers also are eager to add Isuzu's pickups and mid-sized SUV to their car offerings.
