Leyland to stop Isuzu assembly
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by Toby Clark • Leyland Trucks will cease assembly of Isuzu lightweight trucks next year, leaving the Japanese firm in need of an alternative European assembly plant.
Earlier this year Leyland Trucks was bought by USbased Paccar, which already owns Daf and Foden; Daf's range includes the 45 Series, which competes with Isuzu's 7.5-tonne NQR, so a conflict of interest is inevitable and the current contract will expire in September 1999.
In the long term Isuzu plans to build heavier models in the UK, which would complicate matters further.
One possible partner might be 1,,DV, but the Birmingham van maker has already established a long-term relationship with Korean manufacturer Daewoo, and also sells its own 3.5-tonners.
Other potential UK assemblers are thin on the ground, so Isuzu might have to look elsewhere in Europe. Britain is Isuzu's biggest European market, with around 800-1,000 sales per year.
"Isuzu Japan has a big investment in the UK—they want to keep it here," says King. But she admits that overseas assembly is possible.
Until a new assembler is found, complete trucks can be supplied direct from Japan: "This will make no difference as far as the buyer is concerned." says King. "We're in this market to stay."