Isuzu leaving US market!

Effective tomorrow, January 31st 2009, Isuzu Motors will cease selling vehicles in the United States, according to an announcement made by the company today. It’s United States sales are reported by Autoweek as down 17% this year from last year’s total of only 7,078. Those vehicles are versions of General Motors vehicles, the Chevy Trailblazer and the GMC/Chevy Canyon/Colorado pick up truck.
 
The company indicated that warranties will still be honored and that it will encourage dealers to continue operating service departments to take care of Isuzu customers. How it intended to make that “encouragement,” however, was not clear.
 
Though the vehicles currently sold under the Isuzu name are derived from GM vehicles and may, thereby, be able to be serviced, at least in theory, by some GM dealers, the move is certain to drop the value of anything with the brand’s nameplate, virtually instantly.
 
If you don’t care about that, now’s the time to see your Isuzu dealer – while there still is one.
 
If you just bought an Isuzu, you might be wondering about how long the company’s been planning this move and whether you should have been forwarned.