Jump to content
Create New...
  • Blake Noble
    Blake Noble

    Déjà Vu: GM Really Wants a Slice of Isuzu Motors

    Blake Noble

    Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

    May 3rd, 2012

    At one point in the past, General Motors held a 49 percent stake in the Japanese automaker Isuzu. Over the years however, as GM’s market share eroded and the Detroit car company began fighting against the tides of red ink, it began selling off its shares in Isuzu until the alliance came quietly to an end. In 2006, it sold off its last 7.9 percent stake in the company for a reported $300 million dollars in order to fund restructuring efforts that were badly needed at the time.

    History is about to repeat itself then, as General Motors is reportedly in talks with Isuzu Motors to form a new alliance. This past Sunday, Japanese newspaper Nikkei reported that GM could buy a 10 percent stake in Isuzu. The two automakers would collaborate on developing pickup trucks and selling vehicles in Central and South America, as well as Asia. Isuzu could also benefit from access to GM’s hybrid know-how and other fuel saving technologies.

    Since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009, GM has been focused on striking up new partnerships. Most notably, GM recently bought a 7 percent stake in Peugeot-Citroen SA back in March that cost $423 million dollars.

    While General Motors may be set to take 10 percent of Isuzu, it’s also rumored that GM initially wanted to buy 33.4 percent of the automaker — which amounts to roughly one-third — at a cost of $3 billion dollars. If GM didn’t scale down how much of Isuzu it wanted to buy, it would give GM the right to veto any decision made by board members.

    Source: Reuters 4/29/12, Reuters 5/2/12

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    What's next, 20% stake in Suzuki, 20% stake in Subaru, 50% stake in Fiat?

    I think GM is scared about the cash in its coffers being eyed by other companies especially the investment firms.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Isuzu still is one of the worlds biggest Diesel engine makers and suppliers from what I understand. Since Isuzu built to GM spec the Duramax, it would only make sense for GM to tie up with them again for access to their very large portfolio of Patents in regards to diesel technology.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Medium Duty Trucks. Since GM has gotten out of the business, I believe it is hurting their profits. Look at how many medium duty trucks Ford sells! The biggest GM truck you can get right now is a 3500 (1-ton)... ask RAM how many 4500 and 5500 RAM chasis cabs they sell... ask Ford the same question with the F-450 and F-550. Heck, look at how many F-650 and F-750 trucks are on the roads. GM got out of this market with the Topkick/Kodiak trucks and likely shouldn't have (I understand the fleeting cash problem pre-BK, and then the BK, caused most of the changes in GM).

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I totally agree, GM should NEVER have gotten out of the Medium duty truck business.

    I will have to say that I also understand preBK that they had to cut some areas.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    but why tie back up with Isuzu? They already have all of the know-how.

    Reason to tie back up is as I stated, their ongoing ever growing Diesel portfolio of Patents. GM got access to what went into the Duramax at that time and the right to use it to build other size engines. Yet Isuzu never stopped creating and building new diesel technology and clearly one of their newer patents GM must want.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Oldsmoboi, on , said:

    but why tie back up with Isuzu? They already have all of the know-how.

    Reason to tie back up is as I stated, their ongoing ever growing Diesel portfolio of Patents. GM got access to what went into the Duramax at that time and the right to use it to build other size engines. Yet Isuzu never stopped creating and building new diesel technology and clearly one of their newer patents GM must want.

    It's gotta be something they want....just not sure what.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Saab is next, then some Italian auto maker. Spread the green.

    SAAB is DEAD, Let it rest in the history books. I still expect additional consolidation in the auto industry as Europe closes down their way over capacity of plants.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    SAAB is DEAD, Let it rest in the history books. I still expect additional consolidation in the auto industry as Europe closes down their way over capacity of plants.

    Europe will not close much overcapacity without long painful strikes and some economic unrest. Some more automakers may have to go into liquidation for the European car market to right-size itself.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    SAAB is DEAD, Let it rest in the history books. I still expect additional consolidation in the auto industry as Europe closes down their way over capacity of plants.

    Europe will not close much overcapacity without long painful strikes and some economic unrest. Some more automakers may have to go into liquidation for the European car market to right-size itself.

    I agree, I expect the next 2-5 years to be very painfull in Europe and if the European Union survives then we will see some real growth out of this area. The socialist system will either take total control and destroy competition to keep things status quo or we will finally see a merging and radical change to allow true growth and reduction of debt.

    The world cannot continue at this pace of debt and survive.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Well according to the market watchers GM is into Isuzu again for 2 main reasons. One is South East Asian markets where GM is still not a strong presents and two present and future diesel technology.

    Believe it or not GM is still weak in some markets that Isuzu would make them a stronger presents in and even if we don't see them the diesel engines are a must in other global markets. It is a fast easy way to get some good engine that they can use in future products.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • Community Hive Community Hive

    Community Hive allows you to follow your favorite communities all in one place.

    Follow on Community Hive
  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Posts

    • At the New York Auto Show this week, Hyundai unveiled the 2025 Hyundai Tuscon.  This mild refresh modernizes the Tuscon and brings it more into alignment with the rest of the Hyundai lineup, including their EVs. The exterior styling updates, largely consisting of a front fascia update, are subtle. Inside, Hyundai made the interior more open and airy with a new, lower-height dashboard featuring a panoramic gauge and infotainment screen. The screens consist of twin 12.3-inch displays with crisper colors and graphics, as well as faster processing speeds.  While the screens can control all functions of the car, Hyundai still included physical buttons for the most frequently used controls.  Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay are now standard across the line. A new steering wheel features a much more open design, and on premium trims, the gear selector is now an electronically controlled stalk on the right side of the wheel, much like in the Hyundai Ioniq 6. On some Tuscon models, a new 12-inch color heads-up display with premium graphics is available, and for the first time, navigation directions from Apple Carplay and Android Auto will appear in the display. Proximity key with push button start is now standard across the 2025 Hyundai Tuscon lineup, while an available Digital Key 2 allows for fob-free driving and access via the driver's mobile phone. For 2025, Tucson adds Forward Attention Warning, which utilizes an infrared camera mounted on the steering column to help track the driver’s eye gaze and monitor attention levels to help ensure safe driving. Available Smart Cruise Control 2 continually assesses driver alertness. If the driver is found to be unresponsive, the system can even help safely bring the vehicle to a stop, activating the hazard lights and the electronic parking brake once the vehicle is stopped. Additionally, rear outboard passenger seatbelts now feature standard pretensioners and load limiters. The powertrains largely carry over from the previous model with a standard 187-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder at the entry level end. Also available is a 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid with 231 horsepower with a slightly more powerful electric drive unit (47.7-kW, up from 44.2-kW), and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The plug-in hybrid model features the same 1.6-liter unit, but now paired with a larger electric drive unit with 72.0-kW of output rather than the 66.9-kW motor from the prior year. The plug-in hybrid boasts 268-horspower total system power. With a 13.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the 2025 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid takes less than 2 hours to charge on a level 2 charger.  All hybrid models come standard with all-wheel drive. 2025 Tucson 2.5L models will arrive at U.S. dealerships in June, while 1.6L turbo hybrid and plug-in hybrid models will be available late summer. View full article
    • Plastic cladding = off road.  Instead of killing the Sonata, they should just put plastic body cladding down the side and raise the price by $10k and call it the Sonata HD Overlander X.  Instant hit.
    • Considering a planet with 8 Billion and he sold almost 2 million cars, then he is covering .025% of the population compared to other auto companies. I think 2024 going into 2025 we will see other auto companies top Tesla. You and I are two peas in a pod as I also was up on a hill watching the implosion and thinking what a waste as it was a great building. I love the Kingdome and hate the new stadium.  Agree it was surreal to see the ship hit the support pillar and the whole building just collapse. Be interesting to see what replaces it as today bridges built like that are not allowed due to the exact nature of how it collapsed.  Yes, Tesla is a love or hate and the minimalist approach is not for everyone. I honestly have to agree with the comment @smk4565 I believe made that the touch screen only will be the future of cheap autos and switches and buttons will be the higher end autos. Interesting times we live in for sure.
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings