Isuzu Motors India Marks 10 Years Of Sri City Manufacturing, Targets Export Growth

Isuzu Motors India (IMI) has completed 10 years of vehicle manufacturing at its Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh, which began operations in April 2016. The facility supplies vehicles to the domestic market and export destinations across the Middle East and Asia.

The plant has produced 1,00,000 Made-in-India vehicles as of 2024 and exported more than one lakh engines. In FY2024-25, the company exported 20,312 commercial vehicles, a 24% increase from the previous year, according to the company’s anniversary announcement. It ranked as India’s largest commercial vehicle exporter for the fiscal year, based on SIAM data cited by the company.

Isuzu Motors India said it has maintained profitability since FY2022 and is looking to expand exports while increasing its presence in the domestic market. The company’s Sri City facility manufactures the D-MAX and S-CAB vehicle ranges, among other models.

Sri City Plant Expands Manufacturing Operations

Isuzu inaugurated the Sri City plant in April 2016, beginning production with the D-MAX V-Cross. The facility subsequently expanded its manufacturing operations to include the D-MAX and S-CAB ranges. In 2017, the company began exporting vehicles made in India to neighbouring countries and introduced the mu-X sport utility vehicle in the domestic market.

Exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets began in 2019. The company also started Phase II operations at Sri City during 2019-20, adding a press shop and an engine assembly plant. These facilities expanded its manufacturing capabilities in India.

The company currently exports vehicles to markets including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Naohiro Yamaguchi, president and representative director and CEO of Isuzu Motors Limited, Japan, said India remains strategically important to the company’s global operations. He said the company intends to strengthen its export business while accelerating growth in the domestic market.

Rajesh Mittal, president and managing director of Isuzu Motors India, said the company had recorded 2.5 times profitable growth in the previous year, attributing the performance to developments in its business and operations. The announcement did not specify the financial metric used for this growth comparison.

Workforce And Local Manufacturing

Isuzu Motors India employs more than 1,300 people at its Sri City operations, with women accounting for around 28% of the production-line workforce. The company said 82% of its workforce comprises local employees.

A majority of production workers are diploma engineers who receive in-house skills training, including training involving artificial intelligence for complex manufacturing tasks. The company also donates cut-section engines to technical institutes to support practical learning.

Shigeru Wakabayashi, group CEO of the Mobility Group at Mitsubishi Corporation, said the company would need to remain close to domestic customers and develop vehicles and services suited to their requirements.

Takeshi Hirano, deputy managing director of Isuzu Motors India, said the company would continue adapting its products and operations to changing market requirements.

With a decade of manufacturing completed, Isuzu Motors India is positioning Sri City as a production and export base while seeking further growth in India’s domestic market.