Isuzu

Isuzu's origins date back to 1916 when Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. partnered to build automobiles. In 1922, they produced the Wolseley Model A9, Japan's first domestically manufactured car based on a technology tie-up with Wolseley Motors of the U.K. The company formally established itself as Tokyo Automobile Industries Co., Ltd. in 1937 and was later renamed Isuzu Motors Limited in 1949. Throughout the mid-20th century, Isuzu became a leader in diesel technology, launching the ELF light-duty truck in 1959, which became a global benchmark for economy and reliability. While the company produced passenger cars and SUVs for decades, including a long-standing partnership with General Motors, it shifted its focus entirely to commercial vehicles and diesel engines in the late 1990s due to plummeting sedan sales. In 2009, Isuzu withdrew from the U.S. passenger vehicle market to concentrate on its core commercial strengths. Today, the company is pivoting toward carbon neutrality, aiming to electrify its entire product lineup by 2030 and developing autonomous driving solutions for logistics and public transport to address global driver shortages.