Isuzu plans Toyota Innova rival with a new seven-seater MPV

Japanese automaker Isuzu may not have the strongest product portfolio in the Indian market yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from challenging the world’s largest car brand, Toyota. In about two years’ time, Isuzu is expected to bring out a new seven-seater MPV which will take on the popular Toyota Innova. 

Having made some heavy investments into a local manufacturing facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, Isuzu is now reportedly developing a new premium MPV codenamed RU30. Furthermore, the brand plans to localise the D-MAX pickup truck from Thailand in India.

With production scheduled to commence in October 2016, this all-new MPV could hit the market sometime during the festive season of that year. With a reported annual roll out of 40,000 units of the MPV and 20,000 units of the pickup truck, it is evident that Isuzu is betting big on the MPV and pickup segments.  

Considering the timeframe Isuzu is looking at to bring out its new MPV, it is more than likely that the Japanese automaker could face some stiff competition from a range of new MPVs that will hit the Indian market during the time. There will be the new generation models of the Toyota Innova and the Mahindra Xylo which are currently under development. A few other models from Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki are also expected to hit the Indian shores.  

Source: EconomicTimes