Isuzu Trucks considers new assembly options

Motor manufacturer General Motors South Africa (GMSA), who is currently responsible for the contract assembly of Isuzu trucks in South Africa in its Port Elizabeth Kempston road plant, is mulling the sale this asset. "We, as Itsa, must be responsible for our own assembly operations and we are looking at the best way to achieve this," Uren says. "In the end, we will make a decision that provides [Itsa with] the most cost-effective solution."

Uren told Engineering News that Itsa hopes to bounce back this year after a tough 2011, when the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, in March, played havoc with sales and assembly forecasts. Itsa ended the year at around 2 770 vehicles, having lost around 400 vehicles, "We have to get back to free supply this year," he noted. "We have to catch up and then get back to the normal course of business." Uren says the factory is now back up to 100% capacity and that Itsa will see an improvement in volumes in the second quarter of the year.

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