Isuzu Motors India rejigs top deck

Isuzu Motors India (IMI) has announced key changes in the management, effective today. Naohiro Yamaguchi, general manager, LCV Sales Project Department at Isuzu Japan, will take over as managing director of IMI and will be responsible for the overall operations of the company.

Yamaguchi, who was responsible for the LCV Sales Project at Isuzu, Japan has rich experience in sales operations and strategy. In his previous role, he handled overseas sales operations and business development in Japan, Thailand and Europe. He was one of the key members of the India project team at Isuzu, Japan.

Hiroyasu Miura, executive officer and executive in-charge of the Manufacturing Engineering Planning Department, Vehicle Manufacturing and New Business Development at Isuzu Japan, has been appointed chairman at IMI and will be in charge of product engineering and development. He has considerable experience in vehicle production and quality control in Japan and Thailand with a global approach with a strong focus on class-leading Japanese production methodologies.

Taizo Nakahigashi, senior vice-president at Isuzu Motors India will take over as the CEO at Isuzu Hicom Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Takashi Kikuchi is to take over as president of Isuzu Motors Co, Thailand and also assume the role of senior executive officer at Isuzu, Japan. While he will continue as a part-time board member at Isuzu Motors India, his skills will come handy in Thailand, the world’s largest pickup market where Isuzu is the No. 2 player after Toyota.  

Mr Kikuchi has been the driving force for Isuzu in India. Since IMI’s inception in 2012, he helped drive the initial phase of Isuzu operations in India. His key achievements include the tie-up with Hindustan Motors for the assembly of CKDs, fast-progressing construction of the new IMI manufacturing plant at SriCity, in Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh, tie-ups with several component suppliers towards increasing localisation and an 18-member dealership network.

Commenting on his departure from India, Takashi Kikuchi (pictured above) said, “It has been a very interesting journey so far in India. With the strong focus on quality, Isuzu will make a very interesting impact in the Indian automobile industry. I will be keenly watching the progress at IMI. Also, as I shall takeover charge of Isuzu’s manufacturing plant in Thailand, which is the principle manufacturer of Isuzu pick-up trucks and SUVs globally, I look forward to supporting the Indian operations in all ways.”

The Chennai-headquartered Isuzu Motors India currently contract manufactures CKD kits of the MU-7 SUV and D-Max pick-up truck at HM’s Thiruvallur, Chennai plant.

IMI’s own plant in Andhra Pradesh is slated to go on stream by early 2016, with the initial production capacity at 50,000 units a year. Production will be scaled up to 120,000 units a year, with an investment of Rs 3,000 crore and is expected to generate 2,000-3,000 jobs. The company is also targeting 100 percent localisation within three years of commencing production in 2016. The company has plans to open 60 dealerships across the country by 2016 and aims to have 160 by 2020.

Isuzu, which is a global manufacturer of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, utility vehicles and diesel engines, has operations in 25 countries, selling more than 100 countries worldwide. The company is a leader in pickups and pickup-based derivatives in many markets. It manufactures and sells close to 600,000 units annually across the world.