Isuzu concedes defeat

If you've been shopping for that new Isuzu Ascender, you'd better shop quickly: Isuzu announced today (January 30, 2008) that they will stop selling light vehicles in the United States as of January 31, 2009.

According to a press release from the Isuzu News Bureau, "The discontinuation of passenger vehicles results from the prospective cessation of production by General Motors Corporation of the Ascender sport utility vehicle and the i-290 and i-370 pickup trucks."

If you already own an Isuzu, don't panic -- Isuzu says that it will continue to honor all product warranties and roadside assistance programs, and will continue to support parts and service operations. Isuzu president and COO Terry Maloney says that Isuzu expects that "the vast majority of our dealers will continue as service-only dealers."

Isuzu sold 7,098 passenger vehicles in the United States last year, down from 8,614 the year before. Ascender sales sunk from 4,857 in 2006 to 2,948 in 2007.

Which prompts the big unasked question about Isuzu's withdrawal from the US -- will anyone notice?

Photo © Jason Fogelson