Isuzu Says Goodbye to U.S. Market

Isuzu Motors announced yesterday that it will stop selling passenger vehicles in the United States as of January 31, 2009.

The Japanese automaker's North American sales have dwindled in recent years, from more than 100,000 vehicles in 1999 to just 7,000 last year. Due to financial problems in 2002, Isuzu began selling vehicles built by General Motors. Currently, Isuzu's only models are the Ascender SUV (a re-badged Chevrolet TrailBlazer) and I-Series pickup truck (a re-badged Chevrolet Colorado).

Despite leaving the U.S. market, Isuzu will continue to honor active warranty and roadside assistance programs. In addition, the company is offering its U.S. dealerships the opportunity to continue operating and will also provide parts and service for passenger vehicles at its 200 dealerships "for years to come," writes USA Today -- though how long that will last is debatable. Automotive News says the company "has offered generous buyouts to dealers," including a bonus of $1,000 per new car they sold on average for the past four years.

Though Isuzu's recent track record doesn't show it, the Los Angeles Times says the company's "influence on the industry, as innovator and promoter of sport utility vehicles such as the Trooper and the Rodeo in the 1980s and '90s, was huge." In fact, Automotive News writes, "In 1992 and 1993, the mid-size Rodeo was the top-selling import brand SUV nameplate with sales of 45,257 units." So what went wrong? "The decision to cease distribution was based in part on the fact that the two models Isuzu currently sells here, the Ascender SUV and the I-Series pickup (both manufactured by General Motors for Isuzu), will no longer be made, and the company has no plans to design a new vehicle," explains the Los Angeles Times. Though it's abandoning the passenger market, Isuzu will continue selling commercial vehicles in the United States.

If you're sad to see Isuzu go, don't worry too much -- the manufacturer's departure could mean great deals for consumers. Winding Road notes, "Isuzu plans on some serious incentives to clear out its inventory, so if you're in the market for an SUV or a pickup and you fancy the idea of owning something from a dead brand, now's the time." Check out how Isuzu's vehicles stack up to the competition in U.S. News' rankings and reviews.

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