General Motors Returning To Medium-Duty Truck Market Via Isuzu


General Motors exited the medium-duty commercial truck market when it left bankruptcy in 2009. Now, the automaker plans to return with the help of Isuzu.
Unlike the Kodiak of past, GM plans to slap the Chevrolet bow tie on the nose of Isuzu’s medium-duty range, Reuters reports. Few details on the plan are known as of this writing, but what is known is the automaker will import 80 percent of Isuzu’s trucks from Japan, assembling the rest in the United States via an Isuzu partner facility. The Japanese-made trucks will come with diesel power, while the American-made variants will be fitted with gasoline engines.
The import deal is the latest development in the renewed partnership between GM and Isuzu, following a September 2014 announcement the duo would jointly develop a mid-size pickup for markets outside of North America. Their previous 35-year-long capital alliance came to an end in 2006 amid financial troubles for the Detroit automaker.
The deal is also a new development for GM itself, which discontinued the Kodiak and GMC Topkick after negotiations to sell the medium-duty division to Isuzu and Navistar collapsed in 2009. As early as 2010, the automaker has looked for ways to return to the vacated market, either in Class 5/6 or 4/5.
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Put on the tinfoil: It was an elaborate plan to shut down one of the Flint plants that really was doing good work!
I always thought they should put that serious face on the Silverado HDs or something.
The Kodiak and Top Kick were the worst trucks on the medium duty market, targeted to the municipal and fleet buyers looking for the lowest possible cost irregardless of quality, resale value, or operator comfort. Cheap materials, terrible ergonomics, marginal quality, and sub Soviet looks were the hallmark of these unloved and unmissed vehicles. Other than that, glad GM is back in the medium duty market.
The 6.0 is supposed to be a "truck" engine. It holds its own, at least the current iteration does. I "googled" (technically not a dictionary word) Isuzu and they are already using GM's 6.0 V8. They have 2 diesels in MDT: Isuzu 4JJ1-TC turbocharged intercooled diesel 3.0L (183 in.3) 150hp @ 2,800 rpm 282 lb.-ft. @ 1,600-2,800 rpm According to Wikipedia this engine was in the global Rodeo and Colorado. Isuzu 4HK1-TC turbocharged intercooled diesel 5.2L (317 in.3) 215hp @ 2,500 rpm 452 lb.-ft. @ 1,850 rpm These are both 16 Valve 4 cylinder engines.