- Isuzu Motors South Africa is officially launched
- ‘Head office’ comes to visit in Port Elizabeth
- First 100%-owned plant outside Japan

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa – Isuzu Motors has announced the official launch of business operations in South Africa – a happy conclusion since the 2017 announcement that it would buy the light commercial vehicle operations here and the balance of shareholding in its Isuzu Trucks SA operations.
The event was marked, at the Struandale plant, by the president and representative director of Isuzu Motors Japan, Masanori Katayama, who said Isuzu was committed to growing its business in South Africa.
“This is the first commercial and light commercial vehicle manufacturing operation outside of Japan in which we have acquired a 100% ownership. We are represented in 30 countries outside of Japan and operate 47 plants in these countries with joint-venture partners.

“Our decision on South Africa demonstrates the confidence we have in this market and indicates our longer-term view that the country will be an important base for growth in Africa.”
In early 2017 the company acquired 57.7% of the Kenyan truck and bus assembly operation which supplies East African markets and now has a leading 34% share of the Kenyan new-vehicle market.
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Isuzu also has a 20% shareholding in a joint venture in Egypt, where the company has led the market for 10 years. The light commercial vehicle pick-up assembled there has more than 90% of the market segment with Isuzu KB bakkies.
‘WE’LL DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE’
Isuzu Motors SA’s CEO / MD Michael Sacke said that the company’s initial focus would be consolidation of operations on which to build success. “Our short-term focus is on transitional plans, sustainability, strengthening our product portfolio and relocating the truck operations from Kempston Road to Struandale.
”As we do this we will demonstrate excellence in everything we do and the ability to lead in key segments of the market.”
He wants to grow sales in SA and export more into sub-Saharan Africa.