GM and Isuzu In Bed Again?
April 29th, 2012 1:15 PM
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Uh oh. Here we go again. GM apparently wants a 10 percent stake in Isuzu to build commercial vehicles.
The deal would focus on Asia and Central/South America, while also necessitating an end to the Isuzu/Toyota commercial vehicle alliance. Isuzu was also reportedly in talks with VW regarding a deal to sell Isuzu pickups in Thailand badged as Volkswagens, but that would end as well if an agreement with GM was reached.
Isuzu has resisted GM intervention in its management before (for a very lengthy, detailed timeline, click here and scroll down), but if GM did get its 10 percent, GM may have an option to get more in the future. A Thai pickup venture for shared R&D and production was also discussed – something we’ve seen in the past as well.
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It must be Luv.
Cancelled sale of Opel/Vauxhall, a return to captive financing, resumption of equal control over Shanghai GM, a new partnership with another Euro centric automaker, and now a reinvestment in Isuzu. Looks like GM's on a mission to gradually piece itself back together a la AT&T.
I've got a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo as a daily driver. It may be boring, but the thing is a real tank, and a great car. It's got 190,000 miles on the clock. For several years, while in school, this Isuzu was driven in San Francisco traffic during the week and to Fresno every weekend. I drive it hard in traffic and on the trail. The only problems I've had with it are transmission and climate control related. It's got a GM 4L30E 4-speed and a GM/Valeo refrigeration system. I'm sure that had I gotten the 5MUA 5-speed and if it had something other than a Zexel AC compressor, it would have had NO problems. I love the Isuzu half and hate the GM half. My two cents: Don't do it Isuzu! They're just going to swindle you out of more of your Diesel engine technology!
GM is the best thing that ever happened to Isuzu.