Sales surge lifts Isuzu truck business

IPC president Hajime Koso (second from right) leads other executives during the opening of the 2017 Isuzu Truck Fest. With Koso are (from left) Centro senior sales manager Vic Belisario, IPC EVP Shojiro Sakoda, Centro VP for Marketing Rommel Juan, and IPC assistant division manager for Sales Joseph Bautista. Photo by Charles E. Buban

Last month, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) went to Isabela to conduct a two-day seminar for their customers, composed of representatives of businesses in the province as well as in the nearby Cagayan province that operate fleets of heavy-duty Isuzu trucks.

The session included how to conduct “pre-flight” check-ups even before rolling out of the garage, how to practice defensive driving, how to achieve optimal engine revs to enjoy fuel efficiency on any of IPC’s tractor head models, as well as the intricacies of operating a 7-speed EXR and a 16-speed EXZ heavy truck models.

While the first half of the session was done in a classroom setting, the second part was hands-on as drivers maneuvered the trucks while being supervised by expert instructors.

These out-of-town sessions used to be rare as IPC would regularly hold such within Metro Manila, most often at the Honda Safety Driving Center in Parañaque City.

Market dominance

During the past years, sales of Isuzu trucks have risen, enabling IPC to claim market dominance in the all-truck categories.

For example, IPC reported that from just selling 70 to 80 units annually, the company now sells an average 800 units of heavy-duty trucks.

Even sales of the company’s light-duty commercial truck, the N-series model, have remained strong, improving by 11 percent from sales of 4,363 units last year, further cementing its 17-year market dominance.

“The past few years have shown us a tremendous growth in the sales of trucks and buses, with an average growth rate of 13 percent.

“In 2016 alone, truck sales grew at the rate of 36 percent with a total sales of 6,079 units of new trucks and buses.

“From this, Isuzu achieved the No. 1 position in total sales in all-truck segment for 17 consecutive years,” said IPC president Hajime Koso during the opening of the Isuzu Truck Fest held last April 20 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Koso, while touring the displays, shared that IPC decided this year to feature trucks in various body applications and featuring their many uses through a number of creative displays.

The 2017 Isuzu Truck Fest ended last April 23.

Dependable partner

“Businesses now are fast realizing that they need dependable partners that would allow maximum productivity.

“We let them realize that if they purchase brand-new trucks from our authorized dealers, they will have complete assurance backed by IPC, from providing periodic maintenance to after-sales support,” said Koso.

He added that key to Isuzu’s success is not in the sale of their trucks but in the full service that comes with every purchase.

“With every truck purchase, we provide product orientations, driver’s training, and even professional analysis on fuel consumption and actual vehicle operation.

“A truck is probably one of the most valued investments for a company, which is why aside from providing quality products, IPC guarantees availability of parts and reliable service.”

As an added treat, all registered customers during the show were entitled to receive a free dashboard camera and P10,000 worth of fuel card for every closed transaction on or before June 30, 2017.

Leading the displays were Isuzu’s NHR in flexi truck 10×10 body configuration built by Kyoei Kogyo Philippines (designed for light to medium load transport) and an FVM in Fruehaf wing van configuration built by Centro Manufacturing Corp. that allows for quick loading and unloading of transport goods.

Other trucks on display were light-duty models including the Isuzu NHR with iVAN body option, NHR jeepney prototype, NPR dropside, NPR aluminum van and NQR Garbage Compactor. For the medium to heavy-duty truck, IPC displayed the FVM with crane, CYZ51 in dump truck configuration and EXZ51 tractor head.

Isuzu Truck Fest also invited a number of its truck body building partners namely: Almazora, KPC, Multilift, Transbilt, Versatemp, Red Dragon, CoolAire, and JVF Commercial that visitors may approach should they need other design or configuration for their trucks.

Adding more diversity to the show, IPC displayed its leading light-commercial vehicles, two units each of the Isuzu mu-X Black Series and Isuzu D-Max X-Series.

Future of jeepney

One notable display at the 2017 Truck Fest is a prototype jeepney created by Centro Manufacturing Corp.

Based on the Isuzu NHR light-truck platform, the Centro jeepney prototype seats 17 passengers although it can be lengthened to accommodate 23 passengers.