Isuzu: three decades of sales leadership

Isuzu Australia Limited is celebrating a remarkable milestone in 2019, with this year seeing the Japanese brand mark 30 years of sales leadership in Australia.

The unprecedented run of sale dominance began way back in 1989, and these days the company is the number-one selling brand in the light-duty and medium-duty truck segments, and number three in the heavy-duty segment.

Related reading:
All-time record for Aussie truck sales
Isuzu announces new models in 2018 N Series update
Fresh marketing push at Isuzu

Last year saw Isuzu set an all-time sales record. Some 10,027 new Isuzus hit our roads in 2018, which is a 12.7 per cent increase on the previous year's figure.

IAL's Director and Chief Executive Officer, Phil Taylor, said the milestone was testament to the brand's support of its broad customer base, both in terms of product and backup.

"We're extremely gratified with our achievement of 30 consecutive years of truck market leadership and I'm particularly proud of all the people across both Isuzu and our dealer network par excellence that have helped make this a reality over the past three decades," he said.

"We also acknowledge the hard work of everyone in the industry on a record-breaking total market result.

"It’s taken 11 long years to re-capture the positive business conditions of 2007 and 2008 and I believe that this result is a wider indication of the underlying strength of the economy.

"For Isuzu to have achieved an all-time sales high in a record-breaking market is significant, and the collective effort should be celebrated.

"We see strong signs of continued growth and anticipate that 2019 and beyond will deliver results in-line with the 2018 market."

Reflecting on the brand's achievements and the resurgence of the market, IAL's Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Harbison, provided some context to a stellar 2018.

"The 30-year milestone is all the more satisfying given the fierce competition of the Australian market – something we're renowned for internationally.

"We know Isuzu is not alone in its work to provide a top-shelf experience for Australian truck customers, so for us and indeed against this backdrop, it's certainly satisfying to reap the rewards of all that hard work."

According to IAL's Managing Director, Hiroko Yaguchi, the recent consolidation of the company's many divisions under the one roof at a new, purpose-built truck distribution facility in Melbourne will only see the brand add further momentum in the years ahead.

"Our new facility provides us with the environment for enhanced and more immediate collaboration and communication between the various operations of IAL," she said.

"I'm positive this operational consolidation will provide an excellent launching pad into 2019 and well beyond.

"With so many competitors in our local truck market it's vital that we continually analyse and improve our service provision and be the driving force of innovation in the Australian road transport industry."