A dedicated Truck company
In a major move for South Africa's truck operators General Motors South Africa and Isuzu Motors Limited Japan comes the formation of a local joint venture company in a 50:50 partnership - Isuzu Truck South Africa (Pty) Ltd. General Motors South Africa is a full subsidiary of General Motors, the worlds largest motor company while Isuzu Motors Ltd is also ranked among the top 14 of the world's biggest motor corporations (Fortune Global 500 survey).
Isuzu Truck South Africa has identified transport operator requirements for dedicated trucking expertise and after-market support. The move to focus on trucks over 3500kg GVM - trucks with an approximate payload of 1,5 ton upwards - will strengthen business relationships in the specialist truck market. The new company will take over distribution and support within Southern Africa for all Isuzu Trucks from 3,5 ton GVM upwards and to right hand drive countries in Africa including Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. General Motors South Africa will continue to hold distribution responsibility for the very successful 1-ton Isuzu KB light commercial vehicle range.
Isuzu trucks will be distributed through most of the existing General Motors South Africa truck dealers. However in matching Isuzu Truck South Africa requirements for customer service and market growth, the current Isuzu truck national retailer network will undergo facility upgrades to the value of some R350 million over a two-year period.
GM South Africa's current Isuzu Truck distribution network will become part of the Joint Venture's distribution channel. In terms of production, GM South Africa will continue to build Isuzu Trucks, which will be supplied to the Joint Venture company for distribution.
Isuzu Truck South Africa will have its own staff complement in the region of 50 people, responsible for all truck marketing, sales, service, product development and engineering support. It operates as a separate legal entity, with offices located in Woodmead Office Park, Sandton.
State of the art HQ
Isuzu Truck South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a local joint venture company - a 50:50 partnership between General Motors South Africa and Isuzu Motors Limited Japan - and assumed full operations as a separate legal entity on January 1st, 2007 with approval from the Competition Commission.
Isuzu Truck South Africa has identified transport operator requirements for dedicated trucking expertise and after-market support that strengthens business relationships in the specialist truck market.
Implementing this strategy has resulted in a move to a brand new Sandton-based headquarters for the Isuzu Truck South Africa team. Right opposite Vodacom World of Golf, the new HQ is situated on a 16,602m2 site at 54 Maxwell Drive, Jukskeiview Ext 7, Sandton, occupying 790m2 of the 5350m2 total that is GM South Africa's building.
The new Isuzu Truck South Africa HQ overlooks the Sandton interchange on the N1 and is thus ideally accessible from all directions and OR Tambo International Airport.
Isuzu Truck's new HQ incorporates the latest technology and wireless connectivity. There are high levels of security with indoor and outdoor cameras, including swipe-card technology allowing only employees to access and move about the building.
Customers and dealers will be delighted with the video conferencing with dual screens in 2 facilities. All meeting rooms equipped with overhead projectors. There are 4 plasma screens in the atrium together with 2 touch screens related to product on display, In addition to conferencing and meeting rooms the building has a 150-seat auditorium which can be split into two separate training rooms.
Chief Operations Officer, Craig Uren, concludes - "We must lead our dealers into the future by example with our focus on Isuzu Trucks and truck customers. Our current Isuzu Truck national dealer network is undergoing facility upgrades to the value of some R350 million over a two-year period. Isuzu Truck South Africa's new headquarters is part of this dedicated focus on Isuzu Trucks and customer support."
Chief Executive Officer: Mr Masatoshi Kobayashi
A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Waseda, Kobayashi has had a distinguished 29-year career at Isuzu Motors Limited that goes back to 1977 when he joined the Vehicle Engineering Division.
Rising to be Group Leader in the Engineering Division, Kobayashi was subsequently appointed General Manager of the Purchasing Division.
In March 1999 Kobayashi became Executive Manager of the Manufacturing Division with further promotion to the position of Executive Manager of the Engineering Division at Isuzu Motors Limited before assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu Truck South Africa.
Chief Operations Officer: Mr Craig Uren
A B Comm graduate from the University of Port Elizabeth Uren started his motor industry career in 1990 under the company's Graduate Training Programme.
After holding various positions within sales and marketing he was appointed as Fleet Sales Manager in 1996 and further promoted to National Truck & Fleet Manager in 1999.
In June 2005 he assumed the role of Isuzu Truck Manager - Truck Sales and Marketing before taking on his new position at Isuzu Truck South Africa.
Chief Financial Officer: Mr Arthur Boyle
Starting with General Motors South Africa in 1974, Boyle spent 13 years with various positions in the Management Accounting section of Finance Department.
Boyle was appointed Strategic Planning Manager in 1987 and moved through various product, business and strategic planning functions between 1987 and mid 2003.
In the last three years Arthur Boyle has been Marketing Manager for the re-introduction of the Chevrolet brand in South Africa, before taking on the responsibility of Chief Financial Officer for Isuzu Truck South Africa.