Wayne
Roll Me Over
Reged: 12/06/01
Posts: 2643
Loc: Tucson, Dallas/FW or Virginia ...
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Re: Isuzu Corporate News Thread (Company News)
06/13/06 01:42 PM
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Source: Automotive news, June 12.
Current sales, production, and employees (all manufacturers worldwide): http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA684661.PDF
TOKYO -- General Motors and Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd. said on Tuesday they planned to jointly develop next-generation pickups and other models, aiming to boost efficiency and cut costs. GM and Isuzu, which ended a 35-year equity alliance in April, worked together in the early development stage of the current model Chevrolet Colorado and Isuzu D-Max pickups.
By setting up a 50-50 venture, LCV Platform Engineering Corp., the companies plan work together in more areas to develop a model for emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, South America and Africa, an Isuzu spokesman said. While Isuzu will be responsible for engineering, GM will use the platform to develop other models such as passenger cars and SUVs, he added. The venture, capitalized at $874,000 (100 million yen), will be based at Isuzu's engineering center in Fujisawa, south of Tokyo. It is scheduled to be fully operational by September.
Isuzu expects to increase production of pickups by more than 9 percent in 2006 to 350,000 unit
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Isuzu doesn't seem to be in this one, but I thought it was still a joint powerplant.
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GM will significantly revamp the emissions system of the Duramax, which also is used in full-sized vans and commercial vehicles. GM Powertrain spokeswoman Susan Garavaglia said the diesel will meet the 2007 regulations with:
* A new variable geometry turbocharger.
* Enhanced exhaust gas recirculation.
* Closed crankcase ventilation system.
* Changes to the exhaust system that include an oxidizing catalytic converter to clean NOx emissions and a particulate filter to lower soot.
Diesel particulate filters, first used in Europe in 2005 on Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, will land in America for the first time on diesel versions of the Mercedes-Benz E320 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee coming this fall. The new Duramax developed to meet the emissions regulation won't be available until Jan. 1.
GM's upgrades won't be cheap. The particulate filter and oxidizing catalytic converter, for example, could add at least $3,000 to the cost of building the truck. The estimate is based on hardware costs for older diesels that have been retrofitted with filters and related equipment. GM won't confirm the figures.
Demand is strong for GM's diesel trucks. Capacity from the lone Moraine, Ohio, plant that builds the engine is limited to about 180,000 units a year. Because the Duramax has built a reputation for being smooth, quiet and reliable, GM sells out of diesel trucks each year and gets close to sticker prices, which start at about $30,000 and can go as high as $50,000.
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• 04 Rodeo DI • 56k mi, body damage on the 1st weekend I got it.
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