Say "As-Salamu Alaykum" To Yusuf Al-Isuzu

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Isuzu is joining the “let’s flee Japan and the rising yen” bandwagon, and their latest venture involves assembling export-bound trucks in Saudi Arabia.

Just-Auto outlines Isuzu’s strategy, which has nothing to do with the VehiCross

Isuzu can minimize the effects of the strong yen and better compete for what is expected to be a growing market for commercial trucks as Gulf nations step up infrastructure investment.

Small and large commercial trucks will eventually be added in, with production reaching a total capacity of 25,000 units. As much as Isuzu is made out to be the butt of jokes in North America, their Middle East distributor network looks fairly robust – or at least more robust than the Lebanese parliamentary democracy.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Bumpy ii Bumpy ii on Jul 20, 2012

    Hmmm. I was under the impression that Isuzu had already moved most of its pickup production to Thailand a while back.

  • MrWhopee MrWhopee on Jul 20, 2012

    I know all Japanese companies are racing out of Japan right now, but Saudi Arabia is a bit out of the left field,isn't it? Are you sure Saudi Arabian's willing to work on an assembly line? Wasn't that long ago that they had to import workers to do all the menial jobs their citizens aren't willing to perform.

    • Dejal1 Dejal1 on Jul 20, 2012

      Saudis? I kind of doubt it. Manual labor is for foreigners. Saudis want white collar oops (robe) jobs.

  • Rental Man Rental Man on Jul 20, 2012

    Soon to be available with the factory Hagwalah Prep Edition. (Crazy Saudi street drifting)

  • Ronnie Schreiber Ronnie Schreiber on Jul 20, 2012

    " their Middle East distributor network looks fairly robust " Interestingly, Israel, a country geographically located between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, is not served by Isuzu's Middle East distribution network, but rather the Israeli distributor, Universal Motors Israel, is part of Isuzu's European distribution network. Most likely that's because some folks in the Middle East are offended by the notion that Israel is in the Middle East.

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