D-Max draws near as Isuzu Ute Oz forms up

ISUZU is preparing to launch its D-Max one-tonne utility in Australia in the coming weeks.

The recently formed Isuzu Ute Australia Pty Ltd (IUA) – a Brisbane-based entity which is a “totally separate organisation” to Melbourne-based Isuzu Australia Ltd – has announced it has appointed 40 dealers across the nation, with more to follow.

IUA is headed in Australia by managing director Hitoshi Kono, who is described in a statement released this week as having “extensive experience setting up and running multinational ventures in many countries outside Japan”.

Left: The D-Max LS-U 4x4 (top) and IUA managing director Hitoshi Kono.

This includes an 11-year stint in the US, followed by a return to Tokyo late in 2004 to assume responsibility for collaborative Isuzu projects in China and, now, Australia.

Takeshi Kasahara has been named as deputy managing director.

IUA said Mr Kasahara held key posts at Isuzu’s flagship Thailand distributor Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co Ltd from 1999 to 2007, including “business planning, systems development, market research, marketing (and) service management”.

Most recently he was sales group manager.

Former Ford Australia and Hyundai Motor Co Australia PR executive Richard Power has been formally appointed IUA general manager of marketing and public relations.

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