American Isuzu Motors Inc

Izusu Announces Truck, Minivan Deals: American Isuzu Motors Inc. will expand into the U.S. pickup and minivan markets early next year through separate collaborations with General Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. American Isuzu, the U.S. marketing arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd., said it will sell a compact pickup assembled by GM in Shreveport, La. The body stampings will be supplied by GM's Brazilian unit. GM owns 37.

American Isuzu Motors Inc., the struggling maker of sport utility vehicles, said Monday that U.S. production of two of its three remaining models would cease next year and that in 2005 it would begin importing SUVs made in Thailand to help fill the gap. The Cerritos-based U.S. import and distribution arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd. is restructuring in an attempt to find a new place for itself in the North American market and said details of the plan would be announced April 17.

Izusu Announces Truck, Minivan Deals: American Isuzu Motors Inc. will expand into the U.S. pickup and minivan markets early next year through separate collaborations with General Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. American Isuzu, the U.S. marketing arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd., said it will sell a compact pickup assembled by GM in Shreveport, La. The body stampings will be supplied by GM's Brazilian unit. GM owns 37.

Struggling American Isuzu Motors Inc. said Monday that it will slash suggested starting prices on three of its four Isuzu sport utility models by as much as 14% in a bid to jump-start flagging sales. The Cypress-based car importer helped start the sportutility craze in the U.S. when it introduced the Trooper in the early 1980s. But sales have dried up as the firm has been slow to introduce new models. Financial woes in Japan also caused parent Isuzu Motors Ltd. to pare its U.S.

American Isuzu Motors Inc. has sued Consumers Union, accusing the watchdog group of manipulating road tests to cause late model Isuzu Trooper sport-utility vehicles to tip up in sharp turns. Based on those tests, Consumers Union declared in its Consumer Reports magazine that the Trooper is prone to roll over. "The Trooper is a safe vehicle," said Terry Maloney, senior vice president and general manager of American Isuzu Motors.

John E. (Jack) Reilly, founding senior vice president and former chairman of American Isuzu Motors Inc., has retired after 17 years at the helm of the Whittier-based auto importer. The 71-year-old Capistrano Beach resident, who most recently was senior executive advisor of American Isuzu, was the company's first employee in the United States. Separately, American Isuzu has hired Robert Reilly, 45, as senior vice president and general manager for light vehicles.

Struggling American Isuzu Motors Inc. said Monday that it will slash suggested starting prices on three of its four Isuzu sport utility models by as much as 14% in a bid to jump-start flagging sales. The Cypress-based car importer helped start the sportutility craze in the U.S. when it introduced the Trooper in the early 1980s. But sales have dried up as the firm has been slow to introduce new models. Financial woes in Japan also caused parent Isuzu Motors Ltd. to pare its U.S.

Isuzu introduced an upscale version of its Trooper on Wednesday, the latest effort among auto makers to attract aging baby boomers to more luxurious and versatile sport-utility vehicles. The Trooper, the flagship model of Isuzu's U.S. sales effort, has been given a more powerful engine, a softer, rounder design and more elegant interior than its predecessor. It was unveiled at the Irvine Marriott hotel Wednesday, and will debut on car lots this month.

American Isuzu Motors Inc., the struggling maker of sport utility vehicles, said Monday that U.S. production of two of its three remaining models would cease next year and that in 2005 it would begin importing SUVs made in Thailand to help fill the gap. The Cerritos-based U.S. import and distribution arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd. is restructuring in an attempt to find a new place for itself in the North American market and said details of the plan would be announced April 17.

No one remembers Joe Isuzu. (OK, we're lying.) American Isuzu Motors Inc. hasn't aired a commercial with its infamous lying salesman in eight years. Yet when consumers are asked about Isuzu, the fictitious Joe Isuzu invariably comes up. "We're probably best known as the 'father of Joe Isuzu,' " said Joseph L. Fellona, vice president for light-vehicle marketing at the U.S. arm of the Japanese auto maker.

Struggling American Isuzu Motors, already in a downward spiral marked by slumping sales, layoffs and asset divestitures, is preparing to fire more than a third of its remaining U.S. staff by the end of the year. About 150 of the company's 400 employees will be laid off over the next two months, Isuzu employees at the company's North American headquarters in Cerritos were told this month. A company spokesman confirmed the plan Wednesday but declined to comment.

No one remembers Joe Isuzu. (OK, we're lying.) American Isuzu Motors Inc. hasn't aired a commercial with its infamous lying salesman in eight years. Yet when consumers are asked about Isuzu, the fictitious Joe Isuzu invariably comes up. "We're probably best known as the 'father of Joe Isuzu,' " said Joseph L. Fellona, vice president for light-vehicle marketing at the U.S. arm of the Japanese auto maker.

John E. (Jack) Reilly, founding senior vice president and former chairman of American Isuzu Motors Inc., has retired after 17 years at the helm of the Whittier-based auto importer. The 71-year-old Capistrano Beach resident, who most recently was senior executive advisor of American Isuzu, was the company's first employee in the United States. Separately, American Isuzu has hired Robert Reilly, 45, as senior vice president and general manager for light vehicles.

American Isuzu Motors Inc. has sued Consumers Union, accusing the watchdog group of manipulating road tests to cause late model Isuzu Trooper sport-utility vehicles to tip up in sharp turns. Based on those tests, Consumers Union declared in its Consumer Reports magazine that the Trooper is prone to roll over. "The Trooper is a safe vehicle," said Terry Maloney, senior vice president and general manager of American Isuzu Motors.

American Isuzu Motors has pulled a television commercial for its Rodeo truck that some viewers complained was in poor taste. In the spot, a young man loads a body bag into the rear of the Rodeo as a neighbor, peering from a window, calls police. After stopping the Rodeo, a policeman opens the bag, only to find that it contains dirty laundry. The spot was intended to illustrate the amount of cargo space in the Rodeo.

Izusu Announces Truck, Minivan Deals: American Isuzu Motors Inc. will expand into the U.S. pickup and minivan markets early next year through separate collaborations with General Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. American Isuzu, the U.S. marketing arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd., said it will sell a compact pickup assembled by GM in Shreveport, La. The body stampings will be supplied by GM's Brazilian unit. GM owns 37.

As the U.S. auto industry continues its battle against imports, John E. Reilly finds himself in what some would find an uncomfortable situation. The 64-year-old San Clemente resident, native Pennsylvanian and graduate of the Buick division of General Motors, is chairman of Japanese-owned American Isuzu Motor Inc. and chairman of the Assn. of the Import Automobile Manufacturers. As such, he is chief lobbyist in Congress for improved treatment of the car companies Detroit loves to hate.

Izusu Announces Truck, Minivan Deals: American Isuzu Motors Inc. will expand into the U.S. pickup and minivan markets early next year through separate collaborations with General Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. American Isuzu, the U.S. marketing arm of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd., said it will sell a compact pickup assembled by GM in Shreveport, La. The body stampings will be supplied by GM's Brazilian unit. GM owns 37.