Isuzu only recently made its foray into the Indian automotive market with MU-7 SUV and the D-Max cab pickup truck. The company has launched its third product in the Indian line-up the D-Max Space Cab at the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi today. The company is seeing this as a good opportunity to get recognized in the northern parts as well, as it has been primarily operating only in the southern states till now.
The Isuzu D-Max Space Cab is India’s first multi utility pick up and is based on the single-cab version that is currently on sale in the country. The D-Max Space CAb features a bigger cabin, but not additional doors like the double-cab. Visually the D-Max Space Cab looks the same as the single-cab; however the difference in length is evident on the side profile. The D-Max Space Cab is targeted towards owner driven customers who wish to use the pick up trucks as personal vehicles and sometimes also as multi-utility vehicles. The Japanese manufacturer estimates India to be the world’s largest 1 ton pick up market by 2023, thanks to the growth in the economy and acceptance of pick up trucks as more than commercial vehicles.
Inside the cabin, Isuzu has provided features like power steering, central locking, engine immobilizer, dual airbags and fabric upholstery. The cab boasts of good levels of equipment and quality on the interiors. The D-Max Space Cab will be powered by the same 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol, turbo diesel engine capable of producing 136 PS of power at 3600 RPM and 294 Nm of torque from 1800 – 3200 RPM, mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
Isuzu plans to bring the D-Max Space Cab as a CBU in the country and will launch the pick up soon as a value for money offering. The D-Max Space Cab will be competing against the Tata Xenon pickup as well as the Mahindra Genio in its segment. Isuzu currently has four dealerships operating in Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Cochin and plans to open five more in Delhi, Bangalore, Tirupati, Madurai and Visakhapatnam by March this year. The Japanese manufacturer is currently constructing its Rs. 3000 crore worth factory in Andhra Pradesh which will be operational by 2016 and plans to manufacture 50,000 units annually for domestic and export markets.
