The History of Isuzu® Trucks
For nearly a century, Isuzu Motors has been a leading name in the manufacture of a wide variety of passenger vehicles and trucks both small and large, used by all kinds of businesses around the world. While the company did not begin to sell its vehicles in the United States until 1981, Isuzu trucks and cars have since made a huge impression on American consumers and they remain the best-selling brand of low cab-forward trucks in the country.
Draco Isuzu Truck Center is your southern California Isuzu Truck dealer, located in San Diego. Below, we’ve assembled some basic information on the history of Isuzu Trucks.
Early Days
The Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, along with the Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Company first drew up plans to produce automobiles way back in 1916. Japan built its first truck three years later, along with passenger cars at the Fukagawa Factory. A temporary production interruption came in the form of the Kanto earthquake in 1923, but production on a variety of trucks began again in 1927.
In 1934, the Ishikawajima Motor Company, Limited, changed its name to Isuzu after the Isuzu River in Mie Prefecture. The name “Isuzu” means “fifty bells.” The company helped to modernize Japan’s transportation infrastructure and they also supplied vehicles to the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Isuzu
United States Presence
Isuzu’s first truck shipped to the United States, the KS22, arrived in November of 1984 at the Port of Jacksonville, Florida. The low cab-forward design of these trucks made them much more maneuverable than other trucks available on the market, so American business owners sought them out. Soon, Isuzu was the producer of America’s best-selling lo cab-forward trucks. Over 500,000 Isuzu trucks have made their way across the seas to the North American continent in the intervening 37 years.
Accolades
During their long tenure, Isuzu Motors has received a number of accolades for their vehicles. Isuzu trucks have been named “Medium-Duty Truck of the Year” by Work Truck magazine in 2012, 2013 and 2018. And at the 2017 World Technical Competition in their native Japan, United States Isuzu technicians placed second! The very same year, Isuzu broke records with their parts and trucks selling at an all-time high. The company is also committed to producing more environmentally friendly models, with their 2015 and 2016 diesel trucks meeting greenhouse-gas emission regulations an entire year early.
Ready to view some Isuzu trucks for sale? Stop by our dealership in San Diego, CA, to check out our wide stock of new and used Isuzu trucks for sale. We can even assist you with financing options. Draco Isuzu Truck Center proudly serves all of San Diego County, CA.