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Isuzu traces its roots to Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., which began producing automobiles in 1916 under license from British Wolseley. The company was formally established as Isuzu Motors in 1937, named after the Isuzu River. Isuzu became one of Japan's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, producing trucks, buses, and diesel engines that earned a reputation for durability and reliability.
In the post-war period, Isuzu partnered with Rootes Group to build Hillman Minxes under license, then with General Motors, which took a stake in 1971. GM would increase its holding to 49 percent by the 1990s. Isuzu became a major supplier of diesel engines to GM's North American brands, powering millions of GM trucks and SUVs under the Duramax name. The Isuzu Trooper, introduced in 1981, became a cult off-roader in North America and established Isuzu's SUV reputation.
Isuzu withdrew from the North American passenger car market in 2008 after declining sales, but the company continues to thrive as a global leader in commercial vehicles and diesel powertrains. The D-Max pickup is one of the best-selling vehicles in its class in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa, and the MU-X SUV shares its rugged ladder-frame platform. Isuzu's diesel engines are used in a wide range of applications beyond automotive, including marine, industrial, and agricultural equipment.
Isuzu pioneered the use of direct-injection diesel technology in light commercial vehicles, developing the 4JJ1-TC turbo-diesel engine that set new standards for torque, efficiency, and durability in the one-tonne pickup segment. The D-Max with this engine has become a benchmark for reliability in demanding markets.
The Isuzu Trooper was one of the first Japanese SUVs to offer a four-wheel-drive system with locking differentials and a two-speed transfer case, establishing the template for the "go-anywhere" Japanese SUV segment that would later include the Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero.
Isuzu's Duramax V8 diesel engine, developed in partnership with General Motors and first introduced in 2001, became one of the most successful heavy-duty diesel engines in North American pickup trucks, known for its exceptional reliability and longevity compared to competitors.
The Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding automobile division was formally incorporated as Isuzu Motors Limited.
The first-generation Trooper SUV established Isuzu as a serious off-road manufacturer and became a cult vehicle in North America.
The Isuzu-designed Duramax diesel engine, built in partnership with GM, became the benchmark for heavy-duty pickup trucks.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers